Easy Ways to Save Water

Water levels at the Dillon Reservoir in Dillon, Colo., are at historic lows. With one-third of the nation suffering moderate to extreme drought, homeowners are increasingly being asked to conserve water. (Photo courtesy of Steven G. Smith, Rocky Mountain News.)

With nearly a third of the nation suffering from moderate to extreme drought, restrictions on water use this summer are increasingly likely in communities from woodsy New England to the desert Southwest.

Mountain snowpack in the Colorado Rockies--which nourishes rivers and streams used by communities along the state's populous Front Range and as far away as Southern California--averaged a historic low of only 19 percent of normal when measured this month.

Much of the Southeast has been suffering from drought for nearly four years. Nearly the entire Eastern Seaboard experienced record warm temperatures and below-normal precipitation this winter, raising concerns about reservoir levels and stream flows. Only portions of the Midwest and the Mississippi River Valley seem to be experiencing wetter-than-normal conditions.

At the same time, population growth and greater economic development have increased water demand compared with past periods of significant drought.

"As our population has increased and we've been having more sprawl over the last five to 10 years, there has been a growing awareness that drought is not just a temporary problem, but something we're going to have to grapple with on a regular basis over the long term," said Amy Vickers, a water engineer and author of The Handbook of Water Use and Conservation.

"When we had a much smaller country with fewer people and much less development, drought wasn't as painful as it is now because demand for water was less," Vickers said.

Here are some ways to save water in the home and yard:

• When replacing your old washing machine or dishwasher, ask for appliances with the Energy Star label, the symbol for products that meet federal energy and water efficiency guidelines.
  
  
• Do full loads when washing clothes and running dishwashers so that you use water most efficiently.
  
  
• Take showers instead of baths and use a low-flow showerhead; it can save up to five gallons a minute. Shorter showers help, too.
  
  
• Fix leaky faucets and toilets. A leaky toilet can waste up to 52,800 gallons a year.
  
  
• Replace old faucet aerators with newer models that use less water and provide more water pressure.
  
  
• In older-model toilets, place a plastic bottle filled with water in the tank. It can save 11 gallons of water per day. (Don't use a brick--it can damage your tank.)
  
  
• Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving, and save four gallons a minute.
  
  
• Don't let water go down the drain when there may be another use for it. Collect water used to wash off fruits and vegetables, and water from cleaning your fish tank and reuse it to water plants. Connect gutter downspouts to rain barrels or direct them to trees or plants.
  
  
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean the garage, driveway or sidewalk.
  
  
• Put mulch around plants to reduce evaporation. Aerate your lawn so that water reaches plants more efficiently.
  
  
• Plant during spring or fall, when watering requirements are lower. Water earlier or later in the day when temperatures are lower and evaporation is less rapid. Choose drought-resistant plants.
  
  
• Adjust sprinklers so that they water lawns and plants, not pavement.
  
  

"It adds up," said Bill Lauer, a water engineer with the American Water Works Association, which represents public and private water agencies. "It's amazing how much water you can save if everyone does these things."

(Joan Lowy is a reporter for Scripps Howard News Service. E-mail LowyJ@shns.com.)