You can lower your water bill with small changes to your everyday habits.  Water conservation isn’t just good for the environment; it can also lead to noticeable savings each month.  

Here are some tips to save water around your home: 

Bathroom 

• Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth. 

• Use the sink stopper to collect water for rinsing your razor while you shave instead of leaving the water running. 

Kitchen and Laundry 

• Only run the dishwasher when you have a full load. 

• If you must wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running; use the sink stopper to use the collected water. 

• Wash only full loads of clothes or adjust the water level in the washer to match the size of the load. 

Outside 

• Use a broom to clean walkways and driveways instead of a hose. 

• Use a commercial carwash. Conveyor-style car washes are required to recycle at least 50 percent of water they use. 

• If you wash your car at home, use a bucket of water instead of a running hose to cut down on water waste.  

Irrigation 

• Don’t overwater. Established lawns and landscapes require only an inch of water each week to stay healthy in Gwinnett’s temperate climate. In fact, overwatering kills more plants than drought.  

• To monitor how much water your yard has received, use empty cans. Mark the empty cans at the one-inch level, run your sprinklers as you normally would, and time how long it takes to reach the marks. 

• If you like to sleep in, set your irrigation system timer or purchase an inexpensive hose timer if you set up sprinklers manually.  Don’t forget to turn your timer off and skip the next watering session if your yard has received enough rain to soak the soil.  

• If you have an irrigation system that uses an automatic timer, add a rain sensor. It will keep the sprinklers from operating while it’s raining. 

Landscaping 

• Don’t over-fertilize. Excess fertilizer can actually increase a plant’s need for water. Fertilization is typically only needed every few years. You can obtain a soil test from UGA Extension.  

• Natural mulches such as pine straw, pine bark, and shredded hardwood even out temperature extremes, allow for better water penetration, and help plants retain moisture. For maximum benefit, maintain three to five inches of mulch on the soil surface at all times. 

• Pull your weeds. They aren’t just a landscape eyesore. Weeds compete with other plants for moisture and nutrients. Landscape fabrics can be placed under mulch to serve as an added barrier to weeds. 

For more tips on how to save money, conserve water, and help the environment, register to attend a Water Workshop and visit the Water Conservation page. For a full list of workshop dates, check the Water Workshops calendar.