Water Saving Tips
2021 has been unseasonably hot and dry. During these summer months when rain is infrequent, we ask West Linn residents to consider limiting their water usage in an effort to help reduce the demand currently placed on the City’s water supply. Here are some tips from our friends at Regional Water Providers Consortium on how you can save water both indoors and outdoors.
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10 ways to save water indoors:
- Replace an older toilet with a WaterSense-labeled high efficiency toilet. Older toilets can use up to 4 times more water per flush. Plus, many water providers offer rebates to help you save money when you upgrade.
- Regularly check for & repair water leaks. Even small leaks can waste hundreds to thousands of gallons of water a month. Many water leaks can be fixed by a do-it-yourself plumber, and repair parts are relatively inexpensive to purchase ($5-20).
- Take shorter showers. Each minute you shave off your shower time saves up to 2.5 gallons of water.
- Install an aerator on your bathroom or kitchen faucet and save about 1 gallon per minute. An aerator reduces the flow from the faucet, and uses air to maintain good water pressure.
- Select an Energy Star-approved clothes washer next time you purchase a new washer. They use 15-20 less gallons of water per load, and you will see savings on your energy costs too.
- Install a high efficiency showerhead, and you could save an about 1 gallon of water per minute.
- Know where your master shutoff valve is located. This could save water and prevent damage to your home.
- Wash only full loads. Dishwashers use about the same amount of energy and water regardless of the number of dishes inside, so run full loads whenever possible.
- Turn the sink faucet on only to rinse or use a large container filled with rinse water when washing dishes by hand. You will save about 2.5 gallons of water for every minute your faucet does not run.
- Scrape instead of pre-rinsing. Save yourself up to 20 gallons of water by scraping food off your dishes instead of pre-rinsing them. Energy Star qualified dishwashers and today’s detergents are designed to do the cleaning so you don’t have to. If your dirty dishes sit overnight, use your dishwasher’s rinse feature. It uses a fraction of the water needed to hand rinse.
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10 ways to curb your water use while still maintaining a green and vibrant landscape:
- Adjust your sprinklers so that they’re watering your lawn and garden, and not the street or sidewalk.
- Water early in the morning (before 10:00) or later in the evening (after 6:00) when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is minimized.
- Set it, but don’t forget it! Whether you have a manual or automatic system, be sure to adjust your watering schedules throughout the irrigation season.
- Water established lawns about 1 inch per week (a bit more during hot, dry weather). Find out how much to water this week with the Weekly Watering Number.
- Inspect your overall irrigation system for leaks, broken lines or blockage in the lines. A well-maintained system will save you money, water, and time.
- Consider replacing some turf area with low water use plants and ornamental grasses. They are easier to maintain than turf, look beautiful, and require far less water.
- Group plants with like watering needs. Creating “watering zones” in your garden will allow you to give each plant the water it requires — not too much or too little.
- Add a shut-off nozzle to your garden hose and save about 5-7 gallons each minute your hose is on.
- Adjust your mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn provides shade to the roots and helps retain soil moisture, so your lawn requires less water.
- Apply the amount of water your soil can absorb. Water thoroughly, but infrequently. If run off or puddling occurs, break longer watering sessions into several short sessions allowing water to soak into the soil between each session.
