To use water wisely, examine activities that use the most water. Keeping the grass green uses the most water. Water used in the bathroom has the second highest water use. Flushing the toilet and taking a bath or a shower account for over 70 percent of the water used indoors. Here are some tips to help you use your water wisely.

Keeping the Grass Green

• Water your lawn only when needed. If you step on the grass and it does not spring back, it is time to water.
• Irrigate slowly, deeply, and infrequently to encourage a deeper root system. Add only the amount of water necessary.
• Do not water on a windy day.
• Adjust your automatic sprinkler schedule based on the need for water. People that haul a hose for irrigation use less water for irrigation because of closer control of water use.
• Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, and faucets.
• Plant drought-resistant trees and plants.
• Place a good layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth.
• Incorporate organic material into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil before planting to develop a strong root system that requires less water.

The best time to water is early in the day. After 10 a.m., evaporation robs the soil of moisture so any watering that you do after that time doesn't get absorbed efficiently. Also, water droplets combined with the presence of hot sun create a magnifying effect that can actually burn blades of grass.

Running a sprinkler or watering at night can lead to root rot and creates excessive moisture that can lead to lawn disease.

Saving Water in the Bathroom

• If you have a toilet that uses 5 to 6 gallons of water per flush, put plastic bottles filled with pebbles and water in the tank to lower water use.
• Install low-flow showerheads.
• Take shorter showers.
• Take baths. A bathtub partially filled uses less water than all but the shortest showers.
• Use the bathroom wastebasket, not the toilet, to dispose of trash.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Use water in a glass to rinse your mouth.
• Rinse your razor in the sink, not in running water.

Other Tips

• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Waiting for cold water from the tap, wastes water.
• If the clothes washing machine is not full, use only enough water for the clothes you are washing.
• Run the dishwasher only when it is full.