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Greentips to Save Water

Here are some great tips to save water (and money)!
Green Tip Home

sprinkler head

Inspect your sprinklers.
Check your in-ground sprinkler systems and timing devices regularly to ensure they are operating properly. Inspection is critical for an effective, efficient irrigation system. For example, do a careful visual inspection of sprinkler heads and pipes to check for leaks, damage, or faulty spray patterns.

clothes washer

Awash in savings.
The average American family washes 400 loads of laundry each year. Cut water and energy costs with an efficient clothes washer. If your washer is over ten years old, you could save more than $135 per year on your utility bills with an Energy Star® certified washer. New technology includes more efficient motors, faster spin speeds, and high-pressure spray devices.

lawn irrigation

Skip a week.
Lawns need less water in the cooler months. During the months of December, January, and February, the Southwest Florida Water Management District recommends watering every 10 to 14 days. Skipping a week saves water and makes your lawn healthier by discouraging pests and disease.

Spraying hose on windy day

Water and wind don’t mix.
Avoid watering outdoor plants on a windy day. Wind reduces your watering efficiency since much of the water blows away or evaporates. This holds true whether you’re hand watering plants or irrigating with an automatic sprinkler.

man in shower

Try a Navy Shower.
To save water onboard ships, Navy seamen developed a technique for taking very short showers. The procedure is to get wet, turn off the shower, soap up and scrub, and then turn the water on just long enough to rinse off. This quick shower uses as little as three gallons, while a 10-minute shower uses as much as 60 gallons of water.

leaking hose

Check your faucets.
Inspect faucets (inside and out) for worn-out washers or loose hose connections which can lead to leaks. Leaky faucets often may be fixed by replacing the washer or repacking the faucet stem. If preferred, a plumber can make repairs, or the faucet may be replaced.

cleaning pan

Be a super soaker.
Save water by soaking dirty dishes instead of letting the water run while you scrub them. Fill pots and pans with hot water and dish soap, then allow them to soak (preferably overnight), and you’ll have an easy cleanup job in the morning.

man shaving

Save when you shave.
Save water, soap, and blades by using an electric razor. If you prefer wet shaving, use a hand razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable one. Also, fill the basin with water, and turn off the tap while shaving.

pour grease in can

Don’t pour grease down the drain.
Don’t believe the myth that you can wash grease down the drain with lots of soap and water! It’s a waste of water, and it will not dissolve grease. Avoid clogged pipes by disposing of cooled fats, oils, or grease in the trash can, not down the drain.
Get-rid-of-it

drip irrigation system

Water plants a drop at a time.
Save water by installing a drip irrigation system for outdoor plants. Drip irrigation applies a slow, steady supply of water by means of plastic tubing on or below the ground. Widely available, drip irrigation systems apply water directly to the plant’s roots which reduces evaporation, runoff, weeds, and diseases.
Micro-Irrigation Guide (74-pg. pdf)

beach sunflower groundcover

Landscape with groundcovers.
Consider replacing some of your grass with alternative groundcovers that require little or no water, fertilizer, or pesticides. Groundcovers such as liriope and mondo grass work well in shady areas where turfgrass grows poorly. Certain groundcovers—such as golden creeper, beach sunflower, and beach morning glory—are salt tolerant. Other low-maintenance options are ornamental peanut, creeping fig, and dwarf jasmine.

pitcher of water

Keep it cold.
Tired of waiting for tap water to run cold? Save water and energy by keeping chilled drinking water in the refrigerator. Keep your refrigerator stocked with a pitcher of cold water for use at home, plus several reusable bottles for on-the-go.

watering a plant with cup

Give thirsty plants a recycled drink.
Next time you clean a fish tank, pour the old water on a plant. The nutrients in the dirty water make it a good (free) fertilizer. Other sources of leftover water to pour on plants are a dog’s water bowl, tea kettle, or melted ice cubes. You can also keep a jug by the kitchen sink to collect water while waiting for it to heat up.

toilet

Check your flapper.
Examine the rubber flapper in your toilet tank to see if it’s worn or corroded. A leaky flapper can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in wasted water. A new flapper costs from $2-$10.

defrosting sausage under a running tap

Defrost food the smart way.
Don’t use running water to thaw frozen food. Instead, defrost your food using the refrigerator or microwave. Frozen food should never be thawed on the kitchen counter since this can lead to bacteria growth or illness.

hose nozzle

Nozzle your hose.
Use a shutoff nozzle on your hose so you can turn the water on and off as needed, and select the type of spray you want. Without a nozzle, your garden hose can pour out over 500 gallons of water in an hour.

Current watering restrictions

plant and mulch

Mulch does more than look good.
Mulch makes your garden look attractive, but it also cuts down on your watering and weeding chores. Mulch blocks evaporation so you don’t need to water as often. Use 2-3 inches of wood chips, leaves, grass clippings, or free recycled mulch. Remember to keep mulch away from the base of each plant.

bucket in shower

Catch a bucket of savings.
Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up. Once the water is hot, remove the bucket or slide it out of the way while you shower. The water in the bucket—that would have been wasted down the drain—can be used to flush the toilet or pour on your plants.

broom sweeping

Clean, save and burn.
Use a broom to clean off your driveway, sidewalks, or steps. It may be tempting to use the hose to spray off leaves or debris, but using a broom saves water and burns calories.

pool cover

Don’t let pool water escape.
Use a cover to reduce evaporation when your swimming pool is not being used. Covers also save energy if you’re heating the pool during cool weather. Check with your local swimming pool supply store to find the right cover or blanket for your pool.

toilet image

Flush less.
The toilet isn’t a wastebasket or ashtray. Avoid flushing items down the toilet that belong in the trash can such as used tissues, dead bugs, or cigarette butts. This is a good tip to share with children who may flush all sorts of inappropriate items, which wastes water and risks clogging your sewer lines.

children brushing teeth

Turn off the tap.
A simple way to save water every day is to shut off the faucet when brushing your teeth or shaving. When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with soapy water instead of letting the water run continuously.

towels

Towels: Not just single serve.
Next time you stay at a hotel, ask if they save water by allowing guests to reuse sheets and towels instead of washing them every day. For example, some hotels skip daily linen service unless you place a “Please change the linens today” card on your pillow. You can do the same thing at home by using sheets and towels multiple times (as appropriate) before washing.

faucet

Slow the flow.
Cut water use by replacing old faucets with new low-flow fixtures. For a bathroom faucet, 1.5 gallons-per-minute flow should be sufficient. For a kitchen faucet, you may want to select a 2.5 gallons-per-minute flow model to wash dishes. If replacement isn’t possible, add screw-on aerators to your faucet heads.

dirty plate

Scrape, don’t rinse.
Today’s dishwashers are very efficient, and it’s usually not necessary to rinse dishes before loading them. Scraping the food off with a spatula or sponge should be sufficient. If you must rinse, use cold (not hot) water.

light switch off position

Catch the rain.
Take advantage of our Florida rains (and save on your water bill) by collecting rain water to irrigate your plants.

butterfly on pentas

Create a friendly yard.
Select Florida-friendly, drought-tolerant plants that require less maintenance. You’ll save money with the decreased need for water, fertilizer, and herbicides. An added bonus is that many Florida-friendly plants attract butterflies or birds.

dripping faucet

Lose the leaks.
Did you know that 50% of all households have a plumbing leak? Even a small faucet leak can waste more than 300 gallons of water a month. Learn how to detect – and fix – household water leaks easily with our Leak Detector Guide.

lawn sprinkler

Does your lawn have a drinking problem?
Avoid over watering your lawn. Most of the year, Florida lawns need only about one inch of water per week. Save water by using a rain shut-off device.

car washing bucket

Wash your car, not the driveway.
Save water by going to a commercial car wash that recycles its water. If you wash your own car—park it on the grass, use a bucket of soapy water, and a hose with a shutoff nozzle.

showerhead

Shower yourself with savings.
Keep your showers to five minutes or less (really!). By taking short showers and installing low-flow showerheads, you can save water and money.

lawn mower

Avoid buzz cuts.
Avoid cutting your grass too short by raising the lawn mower blade to the highest setting. This helps grass retain moisture and grow deeper roots.

dishwasher

Dish out the savings.
Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Place dirtier dishes toward the center facing the spray, and keep large items at the sides so they don’t block the water. Use the energy-saving dry option when possible (be sure to use a rinse aid to reduce spotting).

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