DuPage Water Commission

Conservation Tips Around the Home:

A few simple wise water use tips can make a difference in how much water you use.

Use a broom instead of a hose to clear debris from driveways, sidewalks, and patios.

Wash a car with a bucket and sponge. Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose so water doesn't run while you are washing the car. A free-flowing hose uses up to 300 gallons of water each hour.

Check for leaks. Look at pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings. Leaks waste a lot of water. Even a small leak in a garden hose may waste as much as 700 gallons per day.

Save 3 gallons of water per minute by turning off the water when brushing your teeth, shaving, etc. National averages indicate that indoors, about 70 percent of our water is used in the bathroom.

Check your toilet for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If the coloring appears in the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a wasteful leak that should be repaired at once. Even a small leak can waste thousands of gallons a month.

Use your automatic washing machine for full loads only. It uses up to 60 gallons per load.