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Fix leaky faucets, showerheads and pipes throughout your home. A leak of one drop of water per second wastes more than 3000 gallons of water per year.
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Teach your children to turn faucets off tightly after each use.
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Don't let the water run while brushing your teeth or shaving.
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Replace standard showerheads and faucets with low flow showerheads and faucet aerators. You should be able to read 2.0 gallons per minute or less printed on the side of your shower fixtures and faucet aerators. If the numbers are higher, replace the fixtures with low flow fixtures from the Self Help store or the local hardware store.
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Take showers instead of baths; limit showers to five minutes. When bathing fill the tub no more than half full.
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Make sure your toilet flapper doesn't stick open after flushing.
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Drop your used facial tissue and dead bugs in the trash instead of flushing them down the toilet.
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Run full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. When doing laundry, if you can’t make a full load, match the water level to the size of the load.
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When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run in between rinses. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water. Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
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Use the garbage disposal less often. Scrape leftover food from plates into the trash can instead of rinsing them off.
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Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes into YOU, not the drain.
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Don't use running water to thaw food.
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Select low water use plants for landscaping. Plant after the summer rainy season begins or during the fall when the weather is cooler and watering requirements are lower. To get the most from your watering time, group your plants according to their water needs.
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Use mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and weeds.
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Water plants deeply (in the root zone) but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Water plants only when necessary. If you live off post, choose a water-efficient drip irrigation system for your trees, shrubs, flowers and garden.
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Weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light, and water.
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Most Family Housing areas are planted with common Bermuda grass which is heat tolerant and requires less water than other turf grasses. In the late fall, winter, and early spring, Bermuda grass is a straw color, is dormant (not actively growing), and will not require watering. When the summer rains begin, Bermuda grass will turn green again. Adjust your watering schedule to the season.
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Follow the post Installation Irrigation Policy when watering. Check and/or move your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so that only your lawn is being watered, and not the house, sidewalk, or street. When hand watering, always use a shut off nozzle.
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Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass will reduce water loss to evaporation. No more than 1/3 of the total height of the grass should be mowed at any one mowing.
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While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed. Most drought tolerant plants do not require added fertilizers.
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Sweep patios and driveways with a broom – don’t use a hose to flush debris off the cement.
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Don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks. Keep your eyes open for other water leaks in your neighborhood. Report water losses from broken pipes, open hydrants, etc. to the Directorate of Public Works Service Order Desk at 533-2003.
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Collect and use rain water for watering your garden or houseplants. Rainwater contains atmospheric nitrogen which is a free fertilizer for your plants. Rainwater does not contain the salts and minerals that are in tap water that can leave a residue on the surface of the soil in potted plants. Direct downspouts or gutters toward shrubs or trees.
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Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. When washing your vehicle at home, use a bucket of soapy water and a hose with a spray nozzle. Turn off the water while you soap up your vehicle and then do a quick rinse with the hose. Wash vehicles only when necessary.
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Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
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