The National Ground Water Association has announced Sept. 13 as Protect Your Groundwater Day. To participate, the organization has provided some conservation tips.
In addition to state or local restrictions on water use, here are some basic indoor and outdoor water conservation tips:
Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering your indoor plants or garden.
Repair dripping faucets and toilets. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water a year.
Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
Choose appliances that are water and energy-efficient.
Don't run a faucet when you're not using the water, such as while brushing your teeth.
Only run the dishwasher when it's fully loaded and use the "light wash" feature if available to use less water.
Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water is cool.
Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering.
Operate clothes washers only when they are fully loaded, or set the water level to match the size of your load.
Check your well pump periodically. If the automatic pump turns on and off while water is not being used, you could have a leak.
Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground cover, shrubs and trees.
Install irrigation devices that are most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of efficient devices.
Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil.
Avoid buying recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.Use a shut-off nozzle on the hose that can be adjusted down to a fine spray.
Position sprinklers so that water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not on paved areas.
Raise the mower blade to a higher level. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture.
To learn more about protecting groundwater, visit www.wellowner.org.