Simple Tips For Water Conservation

Did you know that a faucet that leaks just one drop per second can waste more than 2,000 gallons of water per year? That a leaking toilet can waste 200 gallons a day? Or that an average shower uses 20 to 30 gallons of water?

Americans use an average of more than 400 million gallons of water each day. Much of that water is wasted due to carelessness.

Through the Jewish Nattional Fund, the International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) offers these simple water-saving tips to conserve our most valuable and vital natural resource:

Indoors

• Turn faucets off when you are not using them. For example, do not leave the water running when washing dishes by hand or brushing your teeth.

• Make sure to repair any leaking faucets, pipes and toilets.

• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave instead of running hot water over it.

• Dispose of toxic chemicals properly. Do not pour them down the drain.

• Install water-saving fixtures such as ultra low consumption toilets, efficient faucets and showerheads.

• Do not throw trash into the toilet as it will result in unnecessary and wasteful toilet flushing; instead, dispose of trash in the proper containers.

• Take a quick shower, rather than a bath, and save an average of 20 gallons of water.

• Clean vegetables in a sink or pan partially filled with water rather than running water from the tap.

• Re-use the water that vegetables are washed in for watering houseplants or for cleaning.

• Insulate water pipes so that water will heat faster and avoid the waste that comes when heating water.

• Instead of waiting for tap water to get cold enough for drinking, keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator.

• Whenever possible, compost food scraps or dispose of them in the garbage, rather than using the garbage disposal, which requires a high level of water for operation.

• Run your dishwasher only when it is full to make the best use of water, energy and detergent.

• Cut down on the amount of rinsing you do before loading the dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers do an excellent job of cleaning dishes, pots and pans.

• Wait until you have a full load of laundry before running the machine to save both water and energy. If you can't wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.

•Don't leave water running when washing clothes by hand. Fill a laundry tub with water and re-use wash and rinse water as much as possible. Do the same with the dishes.

Outdoors

• Water your lawn early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation. Similarly, help to avoid excess evaporation by not watering your lawn on windy days.

• Don't follow a fixed watering schedule. Water when the grass or plants show signs of needing it. Overwatering is bad for plants and lawns. It promotes shallow root growth, making lawns less hardy. To determine if a lawn needs to be watered, simply walk across the grass. If you leave footprints, it's time to water.

• Cover swimming pools to minimize the loss of water due to evaporation. Also, install a more efficient water-saving filter.

• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks or driveways.

• Install efficient irrigation devices that can be adjusted according to seasonal irrigation needs. Install moisture sensors in each irrigation zone (sunny, shady, etc.) to better determine irrigation needs.

• Do not leave sprinklers or hoses on unattended; it can result in leaks and overwatering.

• Maintain a lawn height of 2-1/2 to 3 inches to help protect the roots from heat stress and reduce loss of moisture due to evaporation. Allowing the grass to grow slightly taller reduces water loss by providing more ground shade for the roots and by promoting water retention in the soil.

• Watering in several short sessions rather than one long one allows the lawn to absorb water better and helps reduce the risk of overwatering.

• Check sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the heads in good repair.

• Make sure your sprinkler is placed so it waters only the lawn, not the pavement.

• Avoid sprinklers that spray a fine mist, which increases evaporation.

• Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water and use a nozzle to stop the flow of water from the hose between rinses.

• If possible, consider washing your car on the lawn to reduce runoff.

• Consider Xeriscape landscaping, which takes into consideration how the yard will be used and how it can provide the greatest benefit with the least amount of maintenance. This includes growing plants that are indigenous to the area and appropriate maintenance to reduce water use.

The International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring the problems and solutions unique to arid and semi-arid regions. The IALC promotes cooperative research and practical application of new knowledge to develop sustainable ecological practices. The member institutions share a mission to enable people of arid lands to improve the quality of life for future generations. IALC member institutions include the University of Arizona, Desert Research Institute- Nevada, Higher Council for Science & Technology- Jordan, the University of Illinois, the Jewish National Fund, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation- Egypt, New Mexico State University, South Dakota State University and Texas A&M University- Kingsville.

The Jewish National Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1901 to serve as caretaker of the land of Israel on behalf of its owners- Jewish people everywhere. During the past century, JNF has planted more than 240 million trees, built more than 190 reservoirs and dams, developed more than 250,000 acres of land, created more than 1,000 parks, provided the infrastructure for 1,000 communities and educated students around the world about Israel and the environment. Today, JNF is putting its century of experience to work with the Blueprint Negev initiative, supporting Israel's newest generation of pioneers in developing the Negev Desert, Israel's last frontier. For more information on JNF or to plant trees in Israel, call 1- 800-542-TREE (8733) or visit www.jnf.org. To contact a local office, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.