The drought has reminded us how fragile our water supplies can be. Saving water is critical to meeting our water needs and ensuring sufficient water for our rivers and lakes. It can also save you and your community money. 

Your actions at home can help us get started

The average person wastes up to 30 gallons of water every day. Fortunately, there are many simple things we can do in our own homes to save water.

The Bathroom

• Fix any leaks in your toilet, faucets and water hose bibs. Water saved: up to 200 gallons per day.
• Install a low-flow showerhead and faucet aerators. Water saved: about 2 gallons per minute.
• Replace older, larger-use toilets with newer, higher-efficiency models. Water saved: 0.5 to 5 gallons per flush.

The Kitchen

• Don’t rinse dishes before loading dishwasher. Water saved: 20 gallons per load.
• Hand wash dishes in a full sink instead of under running water.
• Install a low-flow faucet aerator. Water saved: 1 to 2 gallons per minute.
• Consider a water-saving dishwasher. Water saved: 3 gallons per load. 

Landscape Irrigation

For many households, automated irrigation systems account for 60 percent of all water use. This means watering your plants efficiently is one of the most important measures you can take to slash water waste.

• Make sure to follow your community’s watering schedule.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Taller grass encourages growth of deeper root systems and shades the soil to reduce moisture loss.
• Use drip irrigation for bedded plants, shrubs, and trees to apply water directly to the roots, where it’s needed.
• Water your lawn during the early morning hours, when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest, to reduce evaporation and waste.
• Install a rainbarrel or rainwater harvesting system to capture rainwater from your roof for use in your yard.
• Consider replanting your lawn with more drought-tolerant grasses and plants.

Save money with efficiency rebates

Many utilities provide free or reduced price showerheads, faucet aerators, and toilets and offer incentives for certain water conservation measures. Learn more at: www.EnvironmentTexasCenter.org