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Want to save on your water bill? Below are some tips for reducing water consumption, lower consumption means a lower bill.
Save Water in the Bathroom
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Check toilets for leaks. Put a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait at least 15 minutes without flushing, then check the water in the bowl. If the water has changed color, there is a leak that should be repaired.
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Replace old toilets with a low-flow or high-efficiency toilet. View the Orange County Water Smart website for rebate information.
- Do not use your toilet as a waste basket.
- Take baths or shorter showers.
- Catch water in a bucket while waiting for water to get hot.
- Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors.
- Turn off the faucet while shaving, washing, and brushing your teeth.
- Check pipes and faucets for leaks.
Save Water in the Kitchen and Laundry
- Run only full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine.
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Install water-efficient appliances. View the Orange County Water Smart website for rebate information and for high-efficiency clothes washers.
- Do not let the water run while you clean vegetables, wash, or rinse dishes.
- Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator.
- Check pipes and faucets for leaks.
Save Water in the Yard
- Water your lawn only when it needs it.
- Water late in the day when water evaporates at a reduced rate.
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Install a "smart" irrigation controller that adjusts the watering schedule according to the weather. View the Orange County Water Smart website for rebate information.
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Install rotating nozzles that provide better coverage and improve the efficiency of your irrigation system. View the Orange County Water Smart website for rebate information.
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Replace water-guzzling lawns with synthetic turf. View the Orange County Water Smart website for rebate information.
- Do not water gutters or sidewalks.
- Use drought-resistant plants and shrubs. Visit the Be Water Wise website to learn more.
- A layer of mulch around trees and plants slows evaporation.
- Sweep driveways and sidewalks rather than using a water hose.
- Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, couplings and faucets.