There are lots of easy ways to save water both indoors and outdoors. Here are just a few:

• Set your sprinklers to water during the coolest part of the day to reduce evaporation.  A City ordinance mandates that no watering take place between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm except between October 31 and the following March 1. 
• Reduce the amount of time you water by one or two minutes. It may not seem like much, but it can save hundreds of gallons each week!
• Check regularly for broken or clogged sprinkler heads and fix them right away.
• Make sure you are watering plants instead of driveways or sidewalks.
• Plant native species and drought-tolerant plants instead of plants not suited for our local climate. Such plants require little maintenance and water once established.
• Use a broom (not a hose!) to sweep up dirt, leaves and grass cuttings.
• Cover your pool to slow evaporation from it.
• Replace your old toilet. If your home was built in 1992 or earlier, it probably did not have water-efficient, 1.6 gallon per flush toilets.
• Replace your old washing machine. Modern machines such as Energy Star use up to 50% less water and 50% less energy than older models.
• Run only full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Install a low-flow showerhead.
• Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth or lather.

You may not think the water you’re saving makes a big difference, but these simple fixes can save thousands of gallons a week in your home. If we all save just a little, it will benefit us all a lot!