Conserving Water in the Yard & Home Edition March 2017

25 Ways to Conserve Water in the Home/Garden 2017 Edition

Conserving water had become more important and an essential practice in all regions in the last couple of years. Not only can it save you money on your utility bill, it can help pollution in nearby lakes, rivers, and watersheds. You are not only helping yourself but those around you: human or animal. 
With Gardening Season right around the corner, we thought it woul be useful to give you some tips about conserving water in your home and garden. Check out this info below and see if they are thing you should and can start doing today! Enjoy reading…

In the home:

1. Check faucets and pipes for leaks.
                       -a small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger                           leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
2. Don’t use the toilet as a ashtray or wastebasket
                        – every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue, or other small bits of trash, 5 to 7                             gallons of water is wasted.

3. Check your toilet for leaks
                        – Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If without flushing the color begins to                                appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak on your hands. And there’s no                            telling how long or how much water you have wasted thus far.
4. Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks
                         – Read the house meter before and after a two hour period when no water is being                                 used. If it does not read the same after the two hours – you have a leak on your                                      hands.
5. Install water saving shower heads and low flow aerators
                          – an inexpensive way to save water is to install aerators on their faucets.
                            Like this one! You can pay less than $5 to save 5 gallons of water. Also limit your                                showers to under 5 minutes.
6. Put plastic bottles or float boosters in your toilet tank
                          – to cut down on water waste put an inch or two of sand or pebbles in two plastic                                     bottles to weigh them down and put them in your toilet tank. This can save more                                  than 10 gallons per day
7. Insulate your water pipes
                         – it’s easy and inexpensive. Pre-slit foam can be adjusted and attached to any pipe.                                  You’ll get hot water hotter faster.
8. Take shorter showers
                         – called military showers: lather without water and rinse off with water.
9. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush
                        – no explanation needed, we have been screaming this for years
10. Rinse your razor in the sink
                           – fill the sink with a few inches of warm water and rinse in there as need be
11. Use your dishwater and clothes washer for full loads
                          – automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be completely full and avoid the                             permanent press cycle.
12. Maximize the kitchen sink garbage disposal unit
                            – in sink garbage disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Instead start a                                 compost pile and feed your garden 
13. When washing dishes by hand, do not leave the water running for rinsing. 
                              – if you have a double basin, fill one with soapy water and the other with rinse                                       water and or use a rack to rinse them all at the same time.  
14. Don’t let the faucet run when rinsing vegetables
                                – just rinse them in a stopped sink or pot of clean water
15. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge
                              – running tap water to cool it off is wasteful. Store drinking water in the fridge                                         that’s already cool and bring along for any outdoor activity and/or daily use.  

Water Conservation in the Garden

16. Plant drought-resistant lawns shrubs and plants
                             – if you are planting a new lawn or over seeding your lawn; use drought resistant                                   grasses and drought resistant plants that can last through winter and summer.
17. Put a Rubber Mulch Mat around Trees and Plants
                             – Using a mulch mat will slow evaporation and discourage weed growth. It will                                   also retain soil moisture and runoff. Check out how it works here 
18. Don’t water the gutter
                             – position your sprinklers so water lands on the garden not the paved way. Also                                     avoid watering on windy days.
19. Water your lawn ONLY when it needs it.
                             – not sure if you need to water your lawn? Step on the grass blades. If it springs                                       back up, then you do not need to water it. If it does not you should water it. Let
                                   grass also grow to 3 inches to retain water better.

20. Deep Soak your Lawn
                              – when watering the lawn, do it enough for moisture to soak down to the roots                                         where it will do the most good and keep your lawn looking healthy. Put an empty                                 can of tuna in your yard and when it is full then you have done your job properly.
21. Water your lawn during the early parts of the day.
                             – early morning is better than dusk since it prevents the growth of fungus. It is also                                the best defense against slugs and other garden crawlers that try to feast on your                                    garden.
22. Add organic matter and use efficient watering system for shrubs, flower beds, and lawns
                             – this can help soil absorption and water retention.
23. Don’t run the hose while washing your car
                          – clean the car using a pail of water and don’t let Jill go tumbling after. Use the hose                              only for rinsing.
24. Use a broom
                         – when doing manual outside work; a broom can do wonders. Cleaning driveways and                             sidewalks and even patios.
25. Check for leaks and faucets that are not tighten.
                           – more than often a drip is ignored. Make sure all your faucets are properly sealed                                 and no leaks when you are using any hose or faucet.

When looking at it saving water isn’t that hard to do. There is a bad trend of water supply in the nation; with stifling numbers growing every day. Taking measures in the home and garden to conserve water can not only save water but money too. In the long term you can save the Earth and your greater community. 

It does not cost huge amounts of money to make a big impact. Although there are numerous inventions that can save water, there are also things you can do to double the savings. From low-flow shower heads to aerators, things less than $10 can make a difference in the every day life of being more Eco-Friendly. Water conservation is one of the easiest things to do and should become a family practice installed in every day life. Will you do your part today?