Water bill got you down? Here's a few tips to help you save some cash and conserve water at home.

Saving Water Indoors.

• Verify that your home is leak free. Many homes have hidden water leaks. If you suspect that you may have a leak contact our office at 304-876-2574 to arrange for one of our employees to meet with you at your home to check for the presence of leaks.
• Repair dripping faucets by replacing the washers. If a faucet in your home is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you could be wasting approximately 2,700 gallons per year which can add to your utility bills as well as strain your private septic system.
• If your toilet handle sticks in the flush posisition, replace or adjust it.
• Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking the colorant will appear in the bowl of the toilet within an hour or so. These leaks are typically caused by old or worn flapper's in the toilet tank which are very inexpensive to replace.
  
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar wastes by throwing in the trash rather than in the toilet.
  
• Install water softening systems only when absolutely necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain softness. Turn softening systems off when on vacation if possible.
• Never pour water down the drain when it can be used elsewhere such as gardening or cleaning.
• Never use running water to defrost frozen foods, thaw in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost function on your microwave.
• Turn off the sink faucet while scrubbing dishes and pots.
• Wash only full loads of laundry.
• If you're replacing your washing machine, consider replacing with an "Energy Star" labeled machine.
• Take Shorter Showers. 5 Minutes or less is best!
  

Saving Water Outdoors.

• Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and winds are at their lowest This reduces losses from evaporation.
• Don't allow sprinkler systems to water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Posistion them so water lands on the lawn and shrubs, not the paved areas.
• If installing irrigation systems, consider devices which are most water effecient for the use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water effecient irrigation methods.
• Check any sprinkler systems regularly for proper operation and the presence of leaks.
• Adjust lawn mower blades to at least three inches (or the highest setting available) A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than closely clipped lawns.
• Plant drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need water as frequently  and usually will survive short dry periods without watering. Group plantings together based on similar water needs.
• Avoid the installation of ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless the water is recycled.
• Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. A garden hose can flow several hundred gallons of water in only a few hours. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn the sprinklers off.
• If you must wash your car, park on the grass and use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
• When using a nozzle on a hose, always turn it off at the faucet instead of the nozzle. Check hose connectors to make sure rubber or plastic washers are in place.
• Use a broom not a hose to clean driveways and walkways.