Save Water in the Bathroom

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Install a "smart" irrigation controller that adjusts the watering schedule according to the weather. View the Orange County Water Smart website for rebate information.
• 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.
• 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.