Water Saving Tips

Our groundwater supply is vital for the functioning of our homes, our businesses and our community.  It is to your benefit as a homeowner, businessperson or community resident to use water wisely.  If you save water you save money and energy and you help save the environment.  The Park Ridge Water Department has several water saving tips that will help you conserve water in your home.

1. Verify your home is leak free.  Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used.  If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
2. When washing the car, use soap and water from a bucket.  Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for the final rinse.
3. Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or for cleaning around the house.
4. Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.  Do not water on windy days.  Always water  during the cool time of the day to minimize evaporation.  Early morning is best.
5. Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank.  If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes.
6. When mowing, raise the blade of your lawn mower to at least three inches high, or to its’ highest level.  Closely-cut grass makes the roots work harder, requiring more water.
7. Insulate your water pipes.  You’ll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
8. Using a layer of mulch around plants reduces evaporation and promotes plant growth.  Water retaining basins also allow water to be concentrated around the plant.
9. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers.  If you faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
10. Minimize grass areas in your yard, because less grass means less water demand.  Replace it with low-water use landscaping.
11. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily.  Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
12. Conserve water because it is the right thing to do.  Don’t waste water just because someone else is footing the bill, such as when you are staying at a hotel.