Water Conservation Tips

Make sure your home is leak-free.

If you hear water running late at night when no one is up, that could be a possible leak that needs investigation. Other signs of leaks are damp areas (inside or outside) that never dry.

VAID water operators can test if you have a leak in your household. If you suspect a leak, please contact us to schedule a test.

Common household leaks

• Toilet – check for a running toilet by adding food dye to the water tank, then checking the pan water 20 minutes later.
• Faucets – you may be able to replace a washer to fix the leak. Watch this video
• Garden hose – after using your hose, turn off the water at the faucet.
• Hose connections – replacing the gasket is a cheap and easy fix for connection leaks
• Automatic watering systems – look out for areas on the ground that stay wetter than others or have far more growth.

Water saving tips

• Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. Use it to water your indoor plants or garden.
• When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
• Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
• Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save water and prevent damage to your home.
• Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
• Setting cooling systems and water softeners for a minimum number of re-fills saves water and chemicals, plus more on utility bills.
• Insulate hot water pipes for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for energy savings.
• Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.
• Report broken pipes, open hydrants, and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your water provider.
• Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
• When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don’t throw it in the trash—dump it on a plant.

Bathroom

• Take short showers instead of tub baths.
• In the shower, turn the water on to get wet; turn off to lather up; then turn the water back on to rinse. Repeat when washing your hair.
• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month. (See BC Hydro offer at bottom of page.)
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model.
• When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
• Bathe small children together.
• Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants.
• Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face/hands.

Kitchen

• Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin instead of running water from the tap. Use a vegetable brush. Re-use the water that vegetables are washed in for watering plants.
• Don’t use running water to defrost meat or other frozen foods; thaw in the refrigerator overnight, or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
• Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.
• Operate automatic dishwashers only when they are fully loaded. Use the “light wash” feature if available to use less water.
• Most dishwashers can clean soiled dishes very well, so dishes don’t have to be rinsed before washing. Just remove large particles of food, and put the soiled dishes in the dishwasher.
• Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Don’t waste water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave. Or install an instant water heater at your sink.
• Some refrigerators, air conditioners, and icemakers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
• Run your dishwasher only when full.
• When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number glasses to wash.

Laundry

• Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
• Consider purchasing a high efficiency washing machine, which can save over 50 percent in laundry water and energy use.
• Run your clothes washer only when full.
• When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.

Long-term Indoor Water Conservation

• Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
• Consider installing an instant hot water heater on your sink.
• Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking if you have a sudden and unexpected spell of freezing weather.
• If you are considering installing a new heat pump or air-conditioning system, the new air-to-air models are just as efficient as the water-to-air type and don’t waste water.
• When shopping for appliances, look for the WaterSense and Energy Star labeled models, compare the resource savings to traditional models. Not only will you save water and energy, but your bills will go down too.
• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water per year!

Outdoor Use

Car Washing

• Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose that can be adjusted down to a fine spray, so that water flows only as needed. Check hose connectors to make sure plastic or rubber washers are in place to prevent leaks.
• Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• Wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your lawn at the same time.

Lawn Care

• Thirty percent of water used by the average household is devoted to outdoor water use, and more than half of that is used for watering lawns and gardens.
• More than 50 percent of residential irrigation water is lost due to evaporation, runoff, over watering, or improper system design/installation/maintenance.
• Don’t over water your lawn. Lawns only need 1 inch of water per week. Buy a rain gauge so that you can better determine when to water.
• Water the lawn or garden early in the morning during the coolest part of the day. Consider installing an automatic timer. Don’t forget to adjust your watering schedule, as days get longer or shorter.
• Check sprinkler systems and timing devices regularly to ensure they operate properly.
• Raise your lawn mower cutting height—longer grass blades help shade each other, reduce evaporation, and inhibit weed growth.
• Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. Applying fertilizer increases the need for water.
• Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean leaves and other debris from your driveway or sidewalk.
• Don’t leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons a minute.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
• To water sloping lawns, apply water for 5 minutes and then repeat 2-3 times.
• If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
• If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
• Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
• Remove thatch and aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather run off the surface.
• Use a minimum amount of organic or slow release fertilizer to promote a healthy and drought tolerant landscape.
• Use sprinklers for larger areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
• Let your lawn to go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every 3 weeks or less if it rains.
• Install soil moisture sensors on sprinkler systems.
• Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case it malfunctions or you get an unexpected rain.
• Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.

Landscape Irrigation

• Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation system.
• Water trees and shrubs, which have deep root systems, longer and less frequently than shallow-rooted plants that require smaller amounts of water more often. Check with local extension service for advice on watering needs in your area.
• Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.
• Use mulch around shrubs, flowers, vegetables, and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface and cut down on weed growth.
• Mulching lawn mowers help protect water loss and do not require disposal of grass clippings.
• Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves water, time, and money.
• Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with landscape plants for water.
• Plant with finished compost to add water-holding and nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil.
• When outdoor use of water is restricted during a drought, use the water from the air conditioning condenser, dehumidifier, bath, or sink on plants or the garden. Don’t use water that contains bleach, automatic-dishwashing detergent, or fabric softener.
• Choose shrubs and groundcovers, instead of turf, for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
• Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
• Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
• Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the sprinkler heads in good shape.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
• Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
• Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements.
• Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.

Long-term Outdoor Conservation

• Consider replacing all or even a portion of your lawn with plants and trees that require less water.
• Replace your lawn with a flower or vegetable garden. Not only will you have fresh flowers and vegetables, you’ll also save money at the grocery store and you won’t have to mow your lawn anymore.
• Plant it smart. Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs, and trees. Once established, they don’t need water as frequently and usually will survive a dry period without watering.
• Install irrigation devices that are the most water efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of efficient devices.
• Use native plants or practice xeriscape garden techniques in garden and lawn areas. Native plants generally require less water than exotic species.
• We’re more likely to notice leaks indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, sprinklers and hoses for leaks.
• Consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings.
• Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid over watering some while under watering others.
• Use a layer or organic material on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.
• Direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems towards water-loving plants in the landscape for automatic water savings.

Other Outdoor Tips

• Avoid installing ornamental water features, such as fountains, unless they use recycled water.
• Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
• Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation, than those spraying water into the air.
• When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
• Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.