• Check all faucets, pipes and toilets periodically for leaks
• Install water-saving shower heads
• Take shorter showers
• Install a 1.6 gallon low-flow toilet
• Water lawn only when needed
• Plant drought resistant trees and plants
• Recycle pool water

• Hidden leaks caused by a corroded flush valve can waste over 7,000 gallons a month. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the color appears in the toilet bowl within 15 minutes, you may have a leak. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
• If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
• Install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a bag or bottle to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush. Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts. When purchasing new or replacement toilets, consider low-volume units, which use less than half the water of older models.
• Check your home for hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a 30-60 minute period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you may need to look for a leak.
• You may need to repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
• When mowing, raise the blade on your lawn mower to at least three inches high, or to its highest level. Closely cut grass makes the roots work harder, requiring more water.
• When washing the car, use soap and water from a bucket. Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for the final rinse.

Try to do one thing each day that will result in saving water. Every drop counts. You can make a difference.