Protecting your water supply may require you to adopt new technologies or modify your household water use behaviors.

Here are some strategies that may help extend your water supply through dry periods.  

 

Adaptive Water Efficiency Strategies

 

Low to no cost/effort actions:​

• Use rain barrels for gardens, lawns and car washing

• Reduce lawn area and adopt low water use landscaping practices (consider planting native species)

• Install water storage backup (tanks) for seasonal shortages

• Install low-flow showerheads

• Place water in fridge to reduce water waste by running tap

• When washing hands, turn tap off until rinsing

• Don't run water while shaving or brushing teeth

• Collect water used for washing food/dishes to use for flushing toilets  

• Full loads in dishwasher and washing machine

• Clean waste from dishes with tissue and compost instead of rinsing

• Insulate older water heaters and hot water supply lines to reduce water running time

• Take shorter/less showers

• Consider using no-rinse shampoo

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Medium to higher cost/effort actions:

• Install low flow or dual flush toilets

• Install cistern to collect water and increase storage for dry periods

• Reduce pavement and hardscaping to allow groundwater infiltration

• Install waterless/composting toilet