Valparaiso City Utilities

1. Economize - A lot of water goes needlessly down the drain. This might have been O.K. in the past when water was plentiful and cheap -- but not anymore! Think about the amount of water used, and look for ways to use less whenever you can.

2. Repair Leaks - A single dripping faucet can waste hundreds, even thousands of gallons per year. Most leaks are easy to detect and repair with simple tools and some basic know-how.

3. Install water-saving devices - If you don’t already have water-efficient or low-flow fixtures, you can cut your water use with aerators (to mix air with water) and displacement devices (to reduce the amount of water used in older toilets). Make sure devices are installed properly.

We use tap water for various purposes. A typical family of four on a public water supply uses about 350 gallons (or 45 cubic feet) of water a day at home.

Conserve water in the bathroom.
This is where the most water is used.
Toilet, Sink, Tub or Shower

Conserve water in the laundry
A lot of household water is used to wash clothes, so even small investments of time and money can really pay off.
Washing Machine

Conserve water when doing household cleaning
For every job that uses water, there’s a way to economize.
Regular Cleaning, Heavy Cleaning

Sink - Don’t leave the water running when brushing you teeth or shaving. With the tap running at full force, shaving takes 20 gallons of water, teeth brushing takes 10 gallons and hand washing takes 2 gallons of water.

Run as much as you need, then turn off the tap until you need some more. Plug the drain when you wash or shave. Don’t run the water when you brush your teeth. Water running unused goes straight down the drain. It adds up to a lot of wasted water.

Promptly fix drips. A leaky tap, dripping once per second, wastes 6 gallons of water per day. Try a faucet aerator to reduce amount of water used.

Tub or Shower - People use to think showers were less wasteful than tub baths. That failed to take into consideration the fact that many of us spend 10 to 20 minutes or more in the shower. Since most showers pour out between 5 and 10 gallons per minute, that can add up in a hurry.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule. It’s more a matter of self-control. A partially filled tub uses far less water than a long shower, while a short shower uses less than a full tub. Time yourself next time you step under the spray. The odds are you really don't need to stand there that long, nor do you need the shower running at a full, hot blast.

Limit showers to five minutes. Buy a portable, wind-up kitchen timer. Have your teenagers set the timer before getting into the shower, limiting their time.

Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. Put a stopper in the tub before turning on the water. Adding hot water later can warm the initial burst of cold water.

Keep showers short with pressure at low force. Fix drips promptly. Use a low-flow showerhead, flow restrictor or cut-off-valve (lets you shut off water at showerhead while soaping up and shampooing without changing faucet setting.)

Toilet - Every time a toilet is flushed, about 7 gallons of water goes into the sewer. There are two ways to cut down -- first don’t use the toilet for things it was not meant for; and second, reduce the water per flush.

Toilets should not be used as trash cans to flush away tissues, gum wrappers, cigarette butts, spiders, diapers, or anything else that ought to go into a waste-basket or garbage can. All of us have done that at one time or another, but to use the toilet as a wastebasket is just a phenomenal waste of water. Imagine pouring three two-gallon buckets of water on a bitsy spider or a piece of tissue. Ridiculous!

Most toilets use more water than is really necessary. Consider installing a low-flow toilet. Do not put a brick in the back of the toilet to displace water. The brick may begin to disintegrate after a while, causing serious and expensive problems in the plumbing. The extra weight may also crack your tank.

Toilets are notorious for their hidden leaks. They can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day undetected. Leaks occur when the toilet is out of adjustment or when parts are worn, so it’s important to check them periodically. It’s not hard or complicated.

Wait 5-10 minutes after the last flush cycle to perform the leak test.
Remove the cover. Gently add 10 drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. DO NOT FLUSH.
Wait 60 minutes.
If any of the dye appears in the bowl, you have a leak.

The flapper valve and the valve seat have deteriorated or corroded.
The flushing arm and lift chain is not working properly.
The water level in the tank is too high and spills into the overflow tube.
The float rod, ballcock and/or float ball are corroded.

Most toilet leaks are at the toilet overflow pipe or at the plunger ball. If yours leaks at the overflow, the water level is usually too high. Occasionally, the overflow pipe may leak below the waterline. Gently bend the arm until the valve shuts off the water about half an inch below the top of the overflow pipe. Sometimes the valve is worn and will run like a leaky faucet and must be replaced. If you are an experienced "do-it-yourselfer" you can do the job. Otherwise call a plumber.

To see if the stopper ball is worn, flush the toilet and rub the bottom of the stopper with your hand. If the color rubs off or the rubber crumbles, replace the stopper ball. If you need to jiggle the handle to stop the water running after a flush, oil, tighten or replace the flush handle. It’s causing the stopper to stay open and water to continuously flow into the bowl.

Kitchen sink – Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Replace washers and repair or replace fixtures if necessary. A leaky tap, dripping once per second, wastes 6 gallons of water a day.

Don’t let the faucet run when you scrub vegetables or prepare other foods. Put a stopper in the sink instead.

Want a cold drink of water? Don’t stand there letting it run endlessly. Store a jug of ice water in the refrigerator.

When washing dishes, remember not to wash them with the water running. A sinkful of wash water and one of rinse water will do the job just as well. Use a minimum amount of detergent.

Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Instead, defrost overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.

For hand laundering, put a stopper in the sink for both wash and rinse. Don’t let the water run.

Never put water down the drain that can be used for something else, such as watering a plant or garden.

Dishwasher- Automatic dishwashers claim the most water in the kitchens, about 12 gallons per run. The secret here is to make sure the washer is fully loaded before you turn it on, because it is going to use about 12 gallons whether there’s a dinner full of dishes or just a couple of things.

Don’t bother rinsing the dishes in the sink before you put them in the dishwasher. Scrape them clean and let the machine do the rest.

Inspect all connections on the dishwasher to make sure they’re tight. Repair any leaks.

Washing Machine- Many washing machines use 40 or more gallons of water a load whether you have them stuffed full or with only one pair of jeans. Save up for a full load and make your water work efficiently. Properly set the water level for the size load you are washing. As with the dishwasher, you’ll save energy and electricity, as well as water.

Garbage Disposal- Use your sink disposal sparingly. A disposal requires a large amount of water to properly grind up your food waste.

Use a sponge mop instead of a string mop. (It uses less water and takes less water to keep clean.)

Heavy Cleaning – Presoak grills, oven parts, etc., overnight. Wash with an abrasive scrub brush or pad and use plenty of "elbow grease" to minimize water use.

Hoses and Irrigation Systems – Use a hose nozzle that can be shut off or adjusted to a fine spray. When finished, shut off the hose to avoid leaks.

Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hoses can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours, so don’t leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn it off.

Keep irrigation systems running efficiently. Don’t water during the heat of the day or on windy days.

Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.

Don’t water the sidewalk or driveway. Make sure sprinklers are adjusted properly to only water the items that need it.

Consider purchasing a new water-saving pool filter. A single backflushing with a traditional filter uses from 180 to 250 gallons of water or more.

Recycle wading pool water by using it to water your plants or the garden. Your plants won’t know the difference.

Car- Rinse your car once, wash from a bucket of soapy water and rinse quickly again. Do not allow water to run while washing your car. Use a hose nozzle that can be shut off or adjusted to a fine spray.

Driveways and Walkways – Use a broom or rake instead of water to remove leaves clippings and debris from your driveway or walkways.

Use oil-dry or cat litter to soak up oil or antifreeze leaks from your car instead of trying to hose them down.

Lawn and Garden – Don’t overwater your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.

Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest. This reduces loss from evaporation.

Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be sure they are operating properly. Purchase and install a rain sensor device or switch that will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred. To retrofit your existing system, contact an irrigation professional for more information.

Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.

Avoid overfertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers that contain slow-release, water-insoluble form of nitrogen.

Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps control weeds that compete with plants for water.

Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need to be watered as frequently and they will usually survive a dry period without any watering. Group plants together based on similar water needs.

The AWWA and EPA both provide water conservation information and programs that will underscore and support the importance of water conservation initiatives undertaken in Valparaiso. For more information, please visit the following links: