Water Conservation Tips

Indoor Conservation Tips

• Replace your toilet with a high efficiency, low flush toilet that uses only 1.6 gallons per flush. Toilets older than 1992 typically flush at 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. For a list of toilets rated by their performance, download the Maximum Performance Standards Study at: www.portlandonline.com/water/toilet
• Install a toilet tank displacement device. Placing a toilet bank, a jar, or large container filled with water in the toilet tank can help you save 0.5 gallon of water per flush at a low cost. To request a toilet displacement bag fill out our web request form.
• Don't use your toilet as a wastebasket.  
• Check for toilet leaks at least once per year. Drip 10 drops of food coloring into the toilet tank to see if you have a leak. Toilet leaks can waste hundreds of gallons a day.
• Install high efficiency, low-flow faucet aerators that use less than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. The Portland Water Bureau offers kitchen and bathroom aerators that use between 1.5 and 1.0 gallons per minute. To request a bathroom faucet aerator or kitchen faucet aerator, please fill out our web request form.
• Fix leaky faucets right away. Simply replacing the washer may fix the leaks. Even small drips caused by worn washers can waste 20 gallons of water or more a day. Large leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
• Shorten your shower time. Depending on your showerhead, some showers use between 2.5 and 5 gallons of water a minute. Cutting your showertime down can really help save water.  The Portland Water Bureau offers 5-minute showertimers and 1.5 gallon per minute showerheads, to help! To request a showertimer, please fill out our order form.
• Fill the sink or a pan with soapy water, if you wash dishes by hand, instead of letting the faucet run while soaping dishes. Don't let the faucet run while rinsing off dishes. Rinse dishes in a filled sink or a pan of water.
• Run the dishwasher only when it's fully loaded. Most dishwashers use between 12 and 15 gallons of water, full or empty. When loading the dishwasher, scrape food off of dishes and pots instead of rinsing them.
• Run the washing machine only when it's fully loaded. Some washing machines have controls that let you select the load size. Washing machines use between 30 and 50 gallons of water per full load.
• Check out front-loading washers, if you're thinking about buying a new washing machine. These washers can cost more, but they use 1/3 less water and ½ the energy per load than top loading washing machines.

Outdoor Tips

• Deep-soak your lawn. Water infrequently, but thoroughly, so that moisture soaks down to the roots, about four to six inches. If you can water one inch at one time, avoiding runoff, this is usually enough to penetrate the soil four to six inches. If your soil begins to runoff after only one half inch of water, then let it soak in and water another half inch as soon as you can, avoiding the hot part of the day. This encourages deeper, healthier root systems and allows the lawn to go without water for a longer time.
• Water during the cool of the day - late evening, early morning. This helps reduce the amount of water that might be wasted through evaporation. Early morning is best as it avoids the potential for water sitting on and around plants overnight, which can cause disease and mold problems.
• Set a kitchen timer or invest in a sprinkler timer to help prevent over-watering, if you don't have an automatic sprinkling system. Outdoor faucets can flow at more than 300 gallons per hour. A lot of water can be wasted in a short period of time if you forget to turn your sprinklers off.
• If it doesn't grow, don't water it. Position sprinklers so water doesn't land in the gutters or any paved areas.
• Don't water on windy days. Water will go everywhere except where it is needed.
• Consider installing drip irrigation systems which allow water to flow slowly to roots. This encourages strong root systems. Drip irrigation systems also reduce water loss due to evaporation.
• Trim grass at a higher mower setting. This will help shade roots from sunlight and encourage deeper roots. Avoid cutting more then 1" at a time.
• Lay mulch around trees and plants at least 1 to 2 inches deep to retain moisture, slow evaporation, and discourage weed growth.
• Weeds are water thieves, robbing your plants of water and nutrients. Try to keep your lawn and garden weed-free.
• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces.
• Wash your car with a bucket and a sponge. Don't let the hose run while washing your car - use a hose with a shut-off nozzle to rinse.
• Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, and couplings. Leaks can waste a lot of water.
• Help your soil hold the right amount of water:
  • Clay Soil: Add organic material such as compost or peat moss. Clay soil absorbs water very slowly, so water only as fast as the soil can absorb. Don't waste water by letting it run off.
  • Sandy Soil: Water can run through sandy soil so quickly that plants don't have a chance to absorb it. Add organic material to supplement the soil and slow down water flow.
  • Loamy Soil: Loamy soil is the best. It's a combination of sand, silt, and clay. It absorbs water readily and stores it for use by plants. It can retain its loamy quality by continual additions of organic material each year.
• If you own a pool, get a cover for it to help prevent evaporation. An average sized pool can lose about 1000 gallons of water per month. A pool cover can cut this loss by up to 90%. It can also help keep the water cleaner and warmer, saving water and energy if your pool has a filtration and heating system.