Like any habit, it takes time and effort to change how we use our water resources, though the rewards are numerous and very cost effective to achieve. One of the easiest and most cost effective ways to achieve reduced water consumption is through changing a few key habits:

Repair your leaks. Water leaks grow in size and grow in repair cost, with time.

Take short showers; use a showerhead with an on/off valve and turn the water off to lather up. Take a shower with your spouse! Tub baths use huge more amounts of water than showers.

Turn the sink off when not in direct use, as in brushing teeth or shaving or washing produce (hopefully not all at the same time).

Better yet, fill the sink with water to shave or wash that produce. Be careful not to shave your produce too close.

Wash full loads in the clothes washer and dish washer. At least use the small size clothes washer setting!

If you have plumbing fixtures that predate about 1992, they probably should be replaced with newer less consuming versions. This does not mean you sacrifice comfort or quality! A vast majority of manufacturers have refined their products to give great service. By plumbing fixtures we mean showerheads, faucet aerators, toilets, washers, outside hose bibs, sprinkler heads, etc.

Use on/off nozzle valves on the outside hose. Don’t leave that water running when not in direct use!

Equip outside spigots with keyed or locked access.

Careful with hand watering, it is amazing how easy it is to over or miss-water, and how much water can go through a hose. Soaker hoses and devices are much more efficient.

Be plant wise, there is a huge difference in the water needs of plant materials. Plant rocks! Mulch plants! Xeriscape!

Minimize irrigation; control irrigation zones and optimize times. It doesn’t matter how much you water asphalt, it will not grow! Be vigilant for water leaks on irrigation systems; submeter and monitor usage. Winterize irrigation systems and shut them off.

Toilets are the most complex plumbing fixture, and cause the most water leak loss in the domestic environment. A toilet’s flush goes in cycles; it takes four to six flushes to observe all its operations.

Don't use the toilet as a trash can! They are made for the other kind of waste.

If your toilet makes ANY noise once the flush cycle is complete, it is leaking. In the early stages leaks are typically intermittent, then they grow over time to become continuous. They can leak for a few seconds or minutes. They can be enormous in size, easily wasting over 150,000 gallons in one month!

Monitor primary and submetered meters for excess usage and potential leaks.

Use a broom to clean sidewalks and parking areas, instead of water hoses or air hoses. Minimize pressure washing.

Spread the news, teach your children, educate your residents.