Inside

• Turn off the water when you brush your teeth and shave.
• Install low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators and you'll save thousands of gallons/liters of water a year. It's a savings that should reduce your water bill.
• Check out leaks and get them fixed! A dripping faucet can waste up to 2000 gallons/7600 liters of water a year. A leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons/260 liters of water a day.
• Fill a pitcher with tap water and put it in the fridge, rather than running the tap every time you want a drink.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
• When washing dishes by hand, use two basins - one for washing, the other for rinsing - rather than letting the water run.
• Insulate your water heater and all hot water pipes. Less water will be wasted before hot water flows.

Outside

• Use a broom, rather than the hose to clean sidewalks and driveways.
• Use a bucket of water, sponge and a hose with a shut-off nozzle to wash your car.
• If you have a swimming pool, get a cover for it and you'll cut the loss of water by evaporation by 90%.

Landscaping

• Follow PWC's year round Odd/Even watering schedules.
• Plant low-water-use grasses and shrubs to cut your lawn watering by 20 - 50%.
• Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants to retain water.
• Never water at the hottest times of the day or when it's windy.
• Turn off your sprinklers when it's raining.
• Use a moisture indicator to tell when your lawn needs watering and when it doesn't.
• Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered, not the house, sidewalk or street.
• When watering steep slopes, use a soaker hose to help prevent wasteful runoff.
• Consider installing drip irrigation for individual bushes, trees, flowers, and garden areas. This method gets water slowly and directly to the plant roots where it's needed most.
• Visit the Waterwise Garden the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens to learn more tips of saving water. Learn More

Water Quality & Safety

• Lawn and garden pesticides and fertilizers can pollute the water. Reduce your use of these and look for safer alternatives to control weeds and bugs.
• Take used motor oil and other automotive fluids to an automotive service center that recycles them.
• Patronize automotive centers and stores that accept automotive batteries for recycling.
• Take leftover paint, solvents and toxic household products to special collection centers.
• Use phosphate-free detergents.
• Choose natural cleansers - borax, ammonia, vinegar or baking soda.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Choose organic paint and natural finishes - wax and organic wood stains and natural preservatives.