The State of Water

Cut Your Water Bill

Check your home for leaks: 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. Repair all leaks ASAP!
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily by disposing of tissues and other waste into the trash can.
Take shorter showers and consider buying an ultra-low-flow showerhead.
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your face.
Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a glass of water.
Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded.
Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste rather than using a garbage disposal.
Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up.
Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
Use phosphate-free detergents.
Choose natural cleansers - borax, ammonia, vinegar, or baking soda.
Recycle water from your fish tank by using it to water plants. Fish emulsion is a good, inexpensive fertilizer high in nitrogen and phosphorus.

Check your local municipality for watering restrictions. When you do water, do it during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways.
Use a moisture indicator to tell when your lawn needs watering and when it does not.
Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
Plant native and/or drought tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
For swimming pools, consider buying a cover to reduce evaporation and a water-saving pool filter.

Find your area’s water source and get more water conservation tips at the Texas Water Development Board’s Water IQ website.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
Toll Free: (800) 792-1112
Austin: (512) 389-4800