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UTC's Water Conservation Resources
The UTC regulates for-profit water companies (not community or city owned utilities). For more consumer information, visit our water customer page.
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| | Saving water is always a good idea . You've probably heard the usual advice. What we've tried to do is get you more details on how to save water both at home and in the garden. | ||
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| | Water conservation can start with your toilet, use it less, make sure it works properly and, if possible, install a low-flush version. The National Association of House Builders Research Center has more information about low-flow plumbing fixtures. | ||
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| | Xeriscaping is a method of landscaping which uses drought-tolerant plants instead of water thirsty grasses to create a visually attractive landscape. The term is derived from the Greek word meaning dry. | ||
| | Native plantings can help you save water. The Washington Native Plant Society provides information on native plants for Water Wise Gardening and Western Washington Plants. | ||
| | The American Water Works Association offers a comprehensive list of information ranging from appliances to xeriscaping, including detailed information on the capturing and reuse of rain water. | ||
| | The Seattle-based Saving Water Partnership provides local-oriented advice on water conservation. | ||
| | For a look at the socio-economic and practical impliations of drought, visit the National Drought Mitigation Center | ||
Tips for water conservation
1. Test for a leaking toilet by adding food coloring to the tank. If any color appears in the bowl after 30 minutes, your toilet is leaking. Leaking toilets wastes 200 gallons of water a day.
2. Use water conserving plumbing fixtures and water flow constrictors on sinks and showers. If you donąt have a low-flow toilet, place two half-gallon plastic bottles filled with water in your toilet tank. This saves one gallon of water each time you flush.
3. Run your dishwasher and wash clothes only when you have a full load.
4. Take short showers instead of a bath. Baths can use 30 to 50 gallons of water. Showers use 5 gallons of water per minute, less if a flow constrictor is installed.
5. Check your water meter while no water is being used. If the dials are moving then you have a water leak.
6. Donąt run water continuously when washing dishes, brushing your teeth, washing your hands and face, or shaving.
7. Avoid using a garbage disposal. Disposal use a great deal of water. Add your garbage to the compost or trash instead of putting it down the garbage disposal.
8. Choose plants that are native to the area you live or plants that are drought resistant for landscaping and gardens. Native plants are use to the natural amount of precipitation that occurs in the area they are found and normally do not require any additional watering This is known as Xeriscaping.
9. Water lawn and gardens during the coolest part of the day. Use drip irrigation to apply water slowly exactly where it is needed. Collect rain from the gutter system on a house in a rain barrel to use for watering.
10. Use a bucket of water and a spray head on the hose to wash your car. A running hose waste over 100 gallons of water in the time it takes to wash the car.
Posted/updated: 07/23/2009
