Wise Water Use

Why should we conserve water?

There are many reasons to conserve water. Some do it to reduce their water bill, sometimes a local drought reduces the water available to consumers, or many times people reduce water consumption to live "green." Whatever the reason, using water wisely makes sense.

Tips & Tricks

Water Conservation in the Home
  • Use your water meter to check for leaks in your home. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the test. Take a reading on your water meter, wait for about 30 minutes, then take a second reading. If the dial has moved, you have a leak.
  • Check toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after 15 minutes the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
  • Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor water use. Older toilets (installed prior to 1994) use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. Installing a new model can save the typical household 7,900 to 2,100 gallons of water per year.
  • Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow fixtures. Take shorter showers (a four minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water).
  • Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush and use a glass of water for rinsing.
  • When washing dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
  • Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables.
  • Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the water from a faucet until it cools off.
Major Appliances
  • Only run dishwashers when full. Reduce the amount of rinsing you do before loading. Most modern dishwashers require little pre-rinsing.
  • Wait until you have a full load of laundry before running the washing machine. If you can't wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.
  • When in the market for appliances, consider high efficiency or water-saver models that will use an average of 30% less water and 40% - 50% less energy.
Water Conservation in the Yard
  • Plant drought-resistance lawns, shrubs and plants.
  • Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow evaporation and discourage weed growth.
  • Install a drip irrigation system for watering gardens, trees and shrubs. Drip irrigation provides a slow, steady trickle of water to plants at their roots through hidden pipes or hoses.
  • Position sprinklers so that the water lands on the lawn or garden and not paved areas.
  • Water your lawn per the Saint John’s River Management District guidelines. Adjust sprinkler system controls for seasonal water demands.
  • Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings.
  • Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket and a hose with an auto-turn-off nozzle.
  • Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
  • Cover your spa or pool to reduce evaporation. An average size pool left uncovered can lose as much as 1,000 gallons of water per month.
City Water Conservation Initiatives
  • Reclaimed Water Project - provides reuse water for irrigation and agricultural use, conserving potable water.
  • Meter Exchange Program – The Utility Department schedules the replacement of older water meters to provide for better water conservation and consistently accurate readings.
  • The City adopted a Landscape Irrigation Ordinance that meets or exceeds Saint John’s River Water Management District requirements
  • Periodic leak detection checks in the water distribution system including lines, valves and hydrants.
Related Links: