Water Savings Tips

Remind your kids to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
Teach kids to keep showers to under 5 minutes. Make it more fun by creating a playlist or using a timer. You can save up to 1,000 gallons per month with shorter showers.
Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
See a leak you can’t fix? Teach kids to tell a parent, teacher, or grown up.
Reward kids for the water-saving tips they follow.
Set a good example for kids by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth and lathering your hands.
Talk with your kids about water conservation and the importance of clean water in our daily lives. Make water conservation a habit.
Do not allow kids not to waste or play with water on the grass.
Go online with your kids and visit https://cvwatercounts.com or MSWD Kids Corner for games, tips and more!

See a leak you can’t fix? Tell the employer, office maintenance personnel, or property manager, or call a repair technician if authorized to do so.
Work with your office maintenance personnel to regularly check your facilities for leaks, drips, and other water waste.
Make suggestions to your employer or property manager about ways to save water and money.
Keep a refillable water bottle at your desk or workspace. Not only will it remind you to drink more water, but you can also save time and money by filling it from the tap.
Place a ‘please help us save water’ sign in public bathrooms and office buildings to help keep water conservation front-of-mind.
If you work at a business that uses water as part of daily operations, find out how you can reduce the amount used and pitch your ideas to your boss.

Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater.
Consider and compare water use when purchasing ice makers, dishwashers, washing machines, and other cleaning equipment.
See a leak you can’t fix? Tell a parent, teacher, employer, or property manager, or call a handyman.
Make suggestions to your employer or property manager about ways to save water and money.
Using a hose to wash your car in the driveway may seem thrifty, but it's a terrible waste of water. The average household uses 80 to 140 gallons of water to wash their car at home, whereas commercial car wash only uses about 30 to 45 gallons. Plus, these car washes recycle that water, keeping the soap suds from running into our sewer system and waterways.

Turn off the shower while you shampoo your hair, lather soap or shave. This will save you water and toiletries.
Shower or bathe with your partner once a week.
Opt for a shower rather than a bath. If bathing, fill the bathtub only half full.
Fill the sink to rinse your razor instead of leaving the water running while you shave.
Commit to doing one thing to conserve water each day. Don't worry if the savings seem small. Every drop counts.
Follow MSWD on social media for more tips, rebates, and up-to-the-minute updates. Share your water-saving initiatives on social media to inspire others.
Eat more foods with a high water content to help you meet your hydration requirements.
Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time.
When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
Reuse towels, pajamas, and other ‘clean’ items before washing.

Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks. Monitor your water bill for unusually high use.
While you wait for the water to heat up, collect the cold water and use it to water plants.
When cleaning out freshwater fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants or lawn.
If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
Installing an instant water heater means you don’t have to let the water run while you wait for it to heat up. It also saves energy and is more convenient for you.
See a leak you can’t fix? Tell the homeowner, or property manager, or call a handyman.
Lying in bed and hearing a dripping faucet or showerhead? Get up and do something about it! Little leaks add up and so do customer’s bills when leaks go without fixing.
Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance check. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.
Install a thermostat and timer on your evaporative cooler so it only operates when necessary.
If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.
If you have an evaporative cooler, install a recirculating pump to keep water from bleeding off with one pass.

Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
Don’t use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
Scrape dishes rather than rins them before washing.
Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. If you do wash dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
Use the garbage disposal sparingly. The garbage disposal needs a lot of water to run properly.
Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Use a smaller pot when cooking. This helps you control portion sizes and stops you from using more cooking water than necessary. It also saves time and electricity as it heats up quicker.
Don’t pour FOG (Fat, Oil, Grease) or harsh chemicals down the drain. The build-up of these substances makes water purification more difficult at water treatment facilities.
Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it’s one more way to get eight glasses of water a day.
Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
Even the most efficient human dishwasher can't come close to a high-efficiency dishwashing machine. To make the most of this valuable tool in your conservation toolbox, make sure to ONLY run full loads and choose the most water-efficient cycle.
If you must wash by hand, use two basins or tubs in the sink, fill one for soap, and the other to rinse. This uses a lot less water than continuously filling the sink, and you can better control your usage.

Test your toilets for leaks regularly. Slow toilet leaks can be hard to notice. Add a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and leave it for a few hours. If you come back and notice the color in the toilet bowl you know you’ve got a leak.
Install aerators for all bathroom sinks throughout the home.
Install aerators for showerheads (high-efficiency showerheads) throughout the home.
Save 5 gallons of water per shower when you shorten your showers by 2 min.
Fixing a leaking faucet early can save 15 gallons of water a day…per faucet.
If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it. A new flapper is under $15 and can save you hundreds of gallons and dollars on your water bill.

Save 15 gallons of water by washing only FULL loads of laundry.
With the help of a plumber, redirect your washing machine overflow into the garden or a grey water tank.
When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.

Know where your master water shut-off valve is located in case of a leak or emergency.
Choose water-efficient irrigation systems and check them regularly for leaks.
Remember to turn off your sprinklers and outdoor watering for 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
Don’t forget to use a shut-off nozzle on your hose…it’s the law!
Replace turf (grass) with a drought-tolerant desert landscape. MSWD offers qualifying customers a rebate. For rebate information and application visit………….
Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
Plant in the spring and fall, when the watering requirements are lower.
See a leak you can’t fix? Tell the homeowner, or property manager, or call a handyman.
When planting, group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.
Plant species that are native to the region. Drought-tolerant plants thrive in the desert environment.
Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
Don’t overfill the pool. Lower water levels will reduce water loss by splashing.
Install a pool cover (and use it) when not in use to minimize evaporation.
Regularly monitor and adjust your irrigation so that you’re only watering your landscaping and you don’t waste water on the sidewalk/pavement.
Water your lawn and plants early in the morning or after the sun sets for maximum absorption and minimum evaporation.
Change your irrigation controller with the seasons. Grass and plants don’t require as much water during the cooler months.
Routinely check sprinkler heads to ensure they are spraying properly.
Set your lawn mower to a higher setting, longer grass keeps the soil moist.
Weed your lawn and garden regularly.
Using a broom to sweep your driveway and outdoor areas saves #water and #money.
Check your swimming pool for leaks monthly. You can turn off your auto-fill once a month and see if you have more evaporation than usual.
Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Ryegrass needs water every few days, whereas Dormant Bermuda grass needs water monthly.
Aerate your lawn periodically. Holes every six inches will allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface.
Direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems to water-loving plants in your landscape.
Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.
Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants helps them retain moisture, saving water, time and money.
We’re more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.
Leave lawn clippings on your grass, not only does this act as compost, it also helps hold in moisture.

Wash your pet outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs watering.
Pour the leftover water from your cup or water bottle into the dog bowl.
Too many ice cubes? No, Problem….pour the extras into your pet’s water bowl.
Don’t forget to pick up after your pets…this will avoid having to hose down the area later and will keep our groundwater clean.
Taking your dog on a walk is the perfect time to do a spot-check on your irrigation and make sure everything is working properly.
Wash your pets with a bucket of warm water instead of a running hose.

Child brushing their teeth at the sink with the water running

Do you have any leaks or dripping faucets? Find out just how much water is wasted by leaks and drips by using this handy WaterWiser® Drip Calculator.

Take a water use tour around this fun and interactive water-wise home. There you’ll find household conservation tips, a useful water budget calculator, and inspirational garden guide for beautiful, water-efficient gardens.

Then visit Water Use It Wisely for 100 Water-Saving Tips, and more.

Find out if you’re flushing money down the drain – put a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.

Outdoor garden with gravel path and water in the background

Did you know that approximately 70% of water use happens outside the home? Find out if your landscape water use is within your annual water budget by using the water use calculator on the Water Conserving Landscapes page (update link).

Read MSWD’s Water Efficient Landscaping Guidelines, MSWD Water Efficient Landscape Guidelines - 2010 updates and changes, and MSWD Signature Title Block Landscape Plans.

Come visit the MSWD water efficient demonstration garden at the administration building at 66575 Second Street to see some desert-friendly plants up close.

Check out CVWD’s Mind Your Water site for a nifty landscape watering guide.

For more beautiful desert garden examples, visit the Gardens at the Living Desert, and join the Desert Horticultural Society of the Coachella Valley (DHSCV).

Water Savings Tips

Kids

Office / Workplace

Community / Lifestyle

Personal

Home / Indoor

Kitchen

Bathroom

Laundry

Outdoor

Pets

Additional Resources

Outside The House

Water Savings Tips

Kids

Office / Workplace

Community / Lifestyle

Personal

Home / Indoor

Kitchen

Bathroom

Laundry

Outdoor

Pets

Additional Resources

Outside The House

Supporting Documents