INDOOR TIPSKITCHEN

1. #1 There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
   
2. #2 When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
   
3. #3 Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Now, Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy.
   
4. #4 If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
   
5. #5 Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
   
6. #6 Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
   
7. #7 Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.
   
8. #8 Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
   
9. #9 Don’t use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
   
10. #10 Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
    
11. #11 Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
    
12. #12 Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it’s one more way to get eight glasses of water a day.
    
13. #13 Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
    
14. #14 Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
    
15. #15 If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
    
16. #16 Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
    
17. #17 When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.
    

LAUNDRY ROOM

1. #18 When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
   
2. #19 Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.
   
3. #20 When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.
   
4. #21 Have a plumber re-route your greywater to trees and plants rather than the sewer line. Check with your city and county for codes.
   
5. #22 When buying a washer, check the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.
   

BATHROOM

1. #23 If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a WaterSense® labeled model.
   
2. #24 Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
   
3. #25 Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
   
4. #26 Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.
   
5. #27 Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak. Fix it and start saving gallons.
   
6. #28 When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
   
7. #29 Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense® labeled models.
   
8. #30 If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it.
   
9. #31 Use a WaterSense® labeled showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
   
10. #32 Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
    
11. #33 If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing a WaterSense® labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.
    
12. #34 Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.
    
13. #35 Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
    
14. #36 Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
    
15. #37 When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
    
16. #38 Take 5-minute showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.
    
17. #39 Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
    
18. #40 Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time.
    
19. #41 Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.
    
20. #42 One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
    
21. #43 While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.
    

GENERAL INDOOR

1. #44 Teach children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
   
2. #45 Watch the Home Water Challenge video or use the Home Water Audit Calculator to see where you can save water.
   
3. #46 When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it most.
   
4. #47 Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
   
5. #48 Play fun games while learning how to save water!
   
6. #49 Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
   
7. #50 Learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks.
   
8. #51 Reward kids for the water-saving tips they follow.
   
9. #52 Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
   
10. #53 Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.
    
11. #54 Hire a GreenPlumber® to help reduce your water, energy, and chemical use.
    
12. #55 Be a leak detective! Check all hoses, connectors, and faucets regularly for leaks.
    
13. #56 We’re more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.
    
14. #57 See a leak you can’t fix? Tell a parent, teacher, employer, or property manager, or call a handyman.
    
15. #58 At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.
    
16. #59 Make suggestions to your employer or school about ways to save water and money.
    
17. #60 Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
    
18. #61 See how your water use stacks up to others by calculating your daily water use.
    

OUTDOOR TIPS
LAWN CARE

1. #81 Hire a qualified pro to install your irrigation system and keep it working properly and efficiently.
   
2. #82 Hire a Smartscape Certified professional landscaper who has received landscape training specific to the Sonoran Desert.
   
3. #83 Adjust your lawn mower to the height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass.
   
4. #84 Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
   
5. #85 If installing a lawn, select a lawn mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
   
6. #86 Aerate your lawn periodically. Holes every six inches will allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface.
   
7. #87 If walking across the lawn leaves footprints (blades don’t spring back up), then it is time to water.
   
8. #88 Let your lawn go dormant (brown) during the winter. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three to four weeks, less if it rains.
   
9. #89 Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Ryegrass needs water every few days, whereas Dormant Bermuda grass needs water monthly.
   
10. #90 Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.
    
11. #91 While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
    
12. #92 Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.
    
13. #93 Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. 3/4 to 1 inch of water is enough to apply each time you irrigate.
    

POOL

1. #118 Use a pool cover to help keep your pool clean, reduce chemical use and prevent water loss through evaporation.
   
2. #119 Make sure your swimming pools, fountains and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
   
3. #120 If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.
   
4. #121 When back-washing your pool, consider using the water on salt-tolerant plants in the landscape.
   
5. #122 Minimize or eliminate the use of waterfalls and sprays in your pool. Aeration increases evaporation.
   
6. #123 Don’t overfill the pool. Lower water levels will reduce water loss due to splashing.
   
7. #124 Keep water in the pool when playing, it will save water.
   
8. #125 Instead of building a private pool, join a community pool.
   
9. #126 Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air.
   
10. #127 Use a grease pencil to conduct a bucket test to check for pool leaks. An unnatural water level drop may indicate a leak.
    

GENERAL OUTDOOR

1. #128 Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.
   
2. #129 For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.
   
3. #130 Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your grass at the same time.
   
4. #131 Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.
   
5. #132 Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs water.
   
6. #133 When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
   
7. #134 When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
   
8. #135 Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.
   
9. #136 Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance check. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.
   
10. #137 If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.
    
11. #138 Set water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save both water and chemicals, plus energy, too.
    
12. #139 If you have an evaporative cooler, install a recirculating pump to keep water from bleeding off with one pass.
    
13. #140 Report broken pipes, leaky hydrants and errant sprinklers to property owners or your local water provider.
    
14. #141 Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Were a pipe to burst, this could save gallons of water and prevent damage.
    
15. #142 Install a thermostat and timer on your evaporative cooler so it only operates when necessary.
    

OFFICE

1. #10 Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
   
2. #29 Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense® labeled models.
   
3. #39 Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
   
4. #41 Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.
   
5. #54 Hire a GreenPlumber® to help reduce your water, energy, and chemical use.
   
6. #143 Some commercial refrigerators and ice-makers are cooled with water. Upgrade to air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
   
7. #144 Post a hotline in bathrooms and kitchens to report leaks or water waste to facility managers or maintenance personnel.
   
8. #145 Create a suggestion and incentives system at your organization to recognize water-saving ideas.
   
9. #146 Include a water-saving tip in your employee newsletter. Find 100+ tips at wateruseitwisely.com.
   
10. #147 Implement a water management plan for your facility, then educate employees on good water habits through newsletters and posters.
    
11. #148 Publish your organization’s monthly water use to show progress toward water-saving goals.
    
12. #149 Invite your water utility conservation staff to your organization for Earth Day and other environmental events to help promote water savings.
    
13. #150 Water audit your facility to find out your recommended water use, then monitor your utility bills to gauge your monthly consumption.
    
14. #151 Have maintenance personnel regularly check your facilities for leaks, drips and other water waste.
    
15. #152 If you use processed water in your business or facility, look into water recycling.
    
16. #153 Contact your water utility to see if rebates are available for purchasing water-efficient fixtures, equipment or for facility audits.
    
17. #154 Consider and compare water use when purchasing ice makers, dishwashers, reverse osmosis units, coolers and cleaning equipment.
    
18. #155 Become or appoint a water ambassador within your organization who creates, implements and maintains your water conservation program.
    
19. #156 Become a proud WaterSense® partner and let all your customers know.
    
20. #157 As part of the WaterSense® Fix-A-Leak Week in March, plan an employee campaign to look for leaks.
    
21. #158 Determine how your on-site water is being used by installing sub-meters where feasible, then monitoring for savings.
    
22. #159 Conduct a facility water use inventory and identify water management goals.
    
23. #160 Don’t forget hidden water use costs, like energy for pumping, heating and cooling, chemical treatment, and damage and sewer expenses.
    
24. #161 Show your company’s dedication to water conservation through a policy statement. Commit management, staff and resources to the effort.
    
25. #162 Shut off water to unused areas of your facility to eliminate waste from leaks or unmonitored use.
    
26. #163 Create a goal of how much water your company can save and plan a celebration once that goal is met.
    
27. #164 Ask employees for suggestions on saving water and give prizes for the best ideas. Incentivize it!
    
28. #165 Write feature articles on your employee website that highlight water-saving ideas and successes.
    
29. #166 Test your co-workers or employees on topics like xeriscape, WaterSense®, and high-efficiency toilets. See how water-wise they are.
    
30. #167 Hire a WaterSense® irrigation partner to help with your landscape.
    
31. #168 Saving water on your landscape adds up quickly. Send the person in charge of your landscape to an irrigation workshop.
    
32. #169 Marry the weather with your landscape water use. Water use should decrease during rainy periods and increase during hot, dry periods.
    
33. #170 Visit your local Water Conservation office’s website to get information on programs available to businesses.
    
34. #171 Make sure your contract plumber and/or maintenance personnel knows about GreenPlumbers®.
    
35. #172 Ask your company to support water conservation events and education. ProjectWet hosts local events throughout the country.
    
36. #173 Support Tap Into Quality and forgo those plastic water bottles to lower your carbon footprint.
    
37. #174 Scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before washing.
    
38. #175 Use water-conserving icemakers.
    
39. #176 A recent study showed that 99% of business managers surveyed ranked water conservation as a “top five” priority over the next decade.
    
40. #177 If your facility relies on cooling towers, have maintenance maximize cycles of concentration by providing efficient water treatment.
    
41. #178 Be sure your irrigation system is watering only the areas intended, with no water running onto walks, streets or down the gutter.
    
42. #179 While cleaning sidewalks, a hose and nozzle use 8-12 gallons of water per minute. A pressurized Waterbroom® uses closer to 3 gallons.
    
43. #180 Inspect your landscape irrigation system regularly for leaks or broken sprinkler heads and adjust pressures to specification.
    
44. #181 Give your landscape proper amounts of irrigation water. Determine water needs, water deeply but infrequently, and adjust to the season.
    
45. #182 Establish a monthly water budget for your landscape based on the water needs of your plants.
    
46. #183 Limit turf areas at your facility. Instead, landscape using xeriscape principles to cut water use in half.
    
47. #184 Put decorative fountains on timers and use only during work or daylight hours. Check for leaks if you have automatic refilling devices.
    
48. #185 Wash company vehicles at commercial car washers that recycle water.
    
49. #186 Wash company vehicles as needed rather than on a schedule. Stretch out the time in between washes.
    
50. #187 Consider turning your high-maintenance water feature/fountain into a low-maintenance art feature or planter.
    
51. #188 When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water and energy efficient.
    
52. #189 Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.
    
53. #190 When ice cubes are leftover from your drink, don’t throw them out. Pour them on a plant.
    

Do you know what the setbacks for your Septic systems are/or should be? If not, here is a great illustration showing those setback distances to ensure the safety of the environment and yours !

Climate Change is a bi-product of human activity and natural resource exploitation. It affects all aspects of our lives and well being.
Here are some images predicting sea level rise based on collected data, in the North Shore Community by 2050. Provided by Mr. Peter Nishimura, Provincial Climate Change Adaptation Specialist.

Also, here is a simple presentation about Impacts of Climate Change!

Thank you for the residents who voiced their opinions and completed our survey. If you weren't able to join us, you can fill the survey online!