AMARILLO, TEXAS -- With one of the worst droughts in Texas history, water conservation is on the mind of many people. Our Facebook fans chose it as the Facebook Story of the Day.
Here are some tips to help conserve water:
- Please, turn off the water while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your hands.
- You'll use less water if you use mulch in your garden and it cuts down on weeds.
- Check for leaks. Turn off all taps -- watch your meter. If it's moving, you might by wasting water.
- Install low-flow toilets, seriously. You can use 30% less water.
- Run your sprinkler at night between 10 and 6. Heat and wind can steal 60% of the water.
- If it rains, turn off your sprinklers for a few days.
- Don't cut your grass too short. Longer grass holds the water better.
- Overwatering is not good for your plants or our city. Twice a week will work.
- Create a more interesting lawn by using native plants and trees that are water-efficient.
- Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water, not just the hose.
- Removing leaves and other debris from your sidewalk or deck? Sweep it instead of using the hose.
- Use hoses and sprinkler heads the drip water slowly, close to the ground.
- Make a personal commitment to water your lawn only twice a week. It's good for your pocketbook and our city. Reduce Your Use.
- Watering your garden? Use water from the pool, hot tub or ice-chest instead of the hose.
- Fix leaky hoses and faucets.
- Notice a business or resident wasting water on a regular basis? Call the City, we want to know.
- Take shorter showers. You can save 3 gallons of water for every minute.
- Install water-efficient devices in the bathroom and kitchen.
- Cut-back on using your garbage disposal by starting a compost pile.
- Wash your clothes by hand when you can and match the load size with the machine.
- Concrete won't grow. Don't water your driveway, sidewalks or street.
- Install water efficient shower heads and faucets with a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute.
- Collect Rainwater - it's great for your garden and lawn.
- Need to thaw food. Soak it - don't keep the water running.
