Water

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources recommends that you conserve water through the following means:

• Fix leaky faucets and toilets immediately. This is the top water conservation tip. Small faucet drips will waste many gallons of water a day. A 30-cent washer is usually all that is needed. Remove the toilet tank cover and drip 10 drops of food coloring into the tank. After 15 minutes, check for color in the bowl. If you see any color, your flapper valve leaks and it should be replaced immediately. If you can hear your toilet always running, it is leaking badly. Running leaks can waste hundreds of gallons quickly, which add up to thousands of gallons of water, and money, that are wasted each year.

• Install water saving shower heads. Low-flow showerheads deliver 2.5 gallons of water per minute or less and are relatively inexpensive. Older showerheads use 5 to 7 gallons per minute.

• Take shorter showers or take a bath. Simply taking shorter showers will save many gallons of water. For long exposures to the water, a partially filled bathtub instead of a shower will use less water.

• Check out low-flow toilets. Older toilets use 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush. Modern fixtures use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush, and some even less. Using these will cut indoor water use by at least 20 percent. If you cannot replace an older toilet, try a water displacement bag. Do not use bricks. They can crumble and may actually cause a leak.

• Install high efficiency, low-flow faucet aerators. Older faucets use between 3 and 7 gallons per minute. Low-flow faucet aerators use no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. The aerators easily install onto your existing faucets.

• Fill your dishwasher before use. Your dishwasher uses the same amount of water whether it is full or just partially full of dishes, so be sure to always run it full. Many dishwashers have a water saver cycle to save even more.

•Select proper water level for laundry. You can control the amount of water used by your clothes washers. Select the proper water level for each load of laundry. A front-loading washing machine uses 1/3 less water than a top-loading machine.

• Don't let water run down the drain while rinsing vegetables and dishes. Before rinsing, put the stopper in place, then when finished release the used sink water as the disposal is turned on. This also saves wear and tear on the disposal.

• Turn off the water while shaving, brushing teeth, etc. Don't let the water run when you brush your teeth, wash your face or hands, or shave.

• Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket. But if you must, just wait until it needs to be flushed.

•Collect rainwater from your downspouts. When a bucket, barrel or cistern is filled, use it to water your plants and garden.

• Keep drinking water in your refrigerator. Running faucets to get cool water can waste 7 gallons of water per minute. Instead, keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator.