Water Tight is Water Smart

The City of Dayton Water Department provides water to over 400,000 individuals throughout Dayton and most of Montgomery County. In an effort to save money and preserve this precious natural resource, it is important that we all be as WaterTight as possible, both inside and outside our homes.

Below are 21 WaterTight tips that will help us save water, save money…and help us to grow healthier, drought-resistant grass, shrubs and trees.

9 WaterTight Ways to Save Water in Your Home

1. Check your toilets for leaks. Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.
2. Install a low-flush device in your toilet to reduce the amount of water needed for each flush (a conventional toilet uses 5-7 gallons per flush), or replace your older toilet with a newer low-flush toilet.
3. Take shorter showers or baths. Long showers can waste five to ten gallons every unnecessary minute. Install water-saving shower heads, flow restrictors, or take baths.
4. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush, or when shaving.
5. Use your automatic dishwasher and washing machine for full loads only - a dishwasher uses up to 12 gallons of water and a washing machine up to 17 gallons.
6. If you wash dishes by hand, do not leave the water running as you rinse.
7. Do not let the faucet run while you clean vegetables.
8. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid running tap water to cool it for drinking.
9. Check faucets and pipes for leaks. A dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day.

12 WaterTight Ways to Save Water Outside

1. Water your lawn only when it needs it. A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, do not water. If it stays flat, fetch the sprinkler. During normal conditions, once a week should do the trick.
2. Water an inch deep. Water long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good - about an inch. A light sprinkling evaporates quickly and encourages shallow root systems. If you use a lawn service, follow their instructions.
3. Sod and seed in late fall. By put sod down or seeding your lawn in the fall, it will require less watering and will develop a stronger root system root system through the winter.
4. Plant sturdy grass and sod. Turf-type tall fescue varieties of grass and sod have a stronger root system than other varieties and require less water to remain healthy.
5. Plant drought resistant trees and plants and water wisely. Many beautiful trees and plants thrive with far less watering than other species. A general rule of thumb is the smaller the leaf; the more Water Tight the tree. Deep-soak trees to a depth of one and a half inches under the canopy. This will encourage a deep root system and help make them more drought resistant.
6. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth too.
7. Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning generally is better than dusk since it helps prevent fungus growth and grubs.
8. Do not water the gutter. Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas. Also avoid watering on windy days.
9. Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
10. Do not run the hose while washing your car - it can use up to 45 gallons of water. Clean the car with a pail of soapy water and use the hose just to rinse it off. Better yet, use an automatic car wash.
11. Tell your children not to play with the hose and sprinklers.
12. Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings. Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they're not a visible. But they can waste as much as twenty gallons a day.

Water is too precious to be wasted. By following these simple WaterTight tips, you can help to preserve the water we have on hand for today and tomorrow - and have a healthier yard too!

If you have questions, or for more information, call or write:

• City of Dayton Department of Water 320 W. Monument Ave. Dayton, OH 45402 (937) 333-3725
• Montgomery County Water Department 4221 Lamme Rd. Dayton, OH 45439 (937) 297-5005