Water Saving Tips

Small changes can add up to big water savings. Try these tips at home, at work and in our community to use water wisely year-round.

Download the Water Conservation Checklist (PDF) for a quick reference of indoor and outdoor tips. Learn more about Austin's Water Conservation Plan (PDF).

At Home

Set up a laundry-to-landscape graywater system to reuse washing machine water on your landscape — one of the easiest and least expensive systems to install. See the Laundry to Landscape Guide (PDF).
Run only full loads. If you must wash a partial load, use the lowest water setting. Replace older washers with water-saving models when possible.
Hang up towels to reuse, pretreat stains to avoid rewashing and check washer hoses for leaks.

Install a low-flow aerator on your kitchen faucet. Free aerators are available to Austin Water customers through the Austin Water Customer Portal.
Wash dishes by hand using two basins — one for wash water, one for rinse — instead of running the tap. Scrape plates into the trash rather than rinsing before loading the dishwasher.
Use a dishwasher when possible; efficient models use as little as four gallons per cycle. Run only full loads.
Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl and use the water on plants afterward. Thaw food in the refrigerator overnight instead of under running water.
Chill drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. Soak pots and pans instead of scrubbing under running water. Drop leftover ice cubes in a houseplant.

Replace older toilets with WaterSense-labeled models using 1.28 gallons per flush or less. Check for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank — if color appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Repair running toilets promptly.
Install water-saving aerators and showerheads (1.5 gallons per minute or less). Free aerators and showerheads are available to Austin Water customers.
Take shorter showers — aim for five minutes or less. Turn off the water while shaving, brushing teeth, lathering and shampooing. Keep a bucket in the shower to catch warm-up water for use on plants or to flush toilets.

Check for and repair leaky faucets, fixtures and pipes. Monitor your water bill for unusually high use that could signal a leak. Use your water meter to check for hidden leaks by turning off all water-using fixtures and checking the meter every 10 to 20 minutes — if it continues to run, a leak likely exists.
Know where your main water shut-off valve is located. Winterize outdoor spigots before freezing temperatures to prevent pipe damage.

Clean driveways and sidewalks with a broom instead of a hose.
Wash your car at a commercial car wash that recycles water — this saves hundreds of gallons compared to home washing. During Stage 1 restrictions, vehicles may only be washed at a commercial car wash. During Conservation Stage, home washing is allowed if you park on the grass and use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.

Use only fountains or ornamental water features that recirculate water, as required by the Austin Water Conservation Code. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air.
Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation, keep the pool cleaner and reduce chemical use. Pool cover rebates may be available.
Check regularly for pool leaks: mark the water level at the skimmer and check 24 hours later — more than ¼ inch of loss may indicate a leak.
Maintain proper chemical levels and circulation time to reduce drain-and-refill frequency. Backwash pool filters only when needed. Avoid water toys that require a constant flow of water.

Lawns and Plants

Visit Grow Green for free landscape design templates, drought-tolerant plant lists and video guides on rainwater harvesting.
Install a rain barrel or rainwater harvesting system to capture roof runoff. Rebates may be available.
Add 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around trees and plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds. Choose drought-tolerant plants and group those with similar water needs together (hydrozoning).
Set your lawn mower to a higher setting — taller grass develops deeper roots and shades soil to reduce moisture loss. Aerate your lawn at least once a year to help water reach roots.
Check soil moisture before watering by inserting a trowel two to three inches deep. If dry at that depth, it's time to water. Most lawns need no more than one inch of water per week even in the hottest months.
Avoid overseeding with winter grass that requires watering. Warm-season turf like St. Augustine and Bermuda goes dormant in winter and typically gets enough water from rainfall.
When refreshing your pet's water bowl or cleaning a fish tank, use the old water on plants. Wash pets outdoors on a patch of lawn that needs water.
Plant during cooler months, remove weeds to reduce competition for water and leave lower branches and leaf litter around the base of trees to keep soil cooler.

Irrigation Systems

Check your watering day and current restrictions before running your system. Water during early morning hours to reduce evaporation.
Inspect your system each spring and repair leaks promptly. Start with low run times and increase only if stress appears in your yard.
Adjust sprinkler heads to water only your lawn — not pavement, structures or tall shrubs. Use drip irrigation for bedded plants, shrubs and trees.
In spring and fall, reduce watering frequency. Turn off your system for the winter.
Austin Water offers free irrigation system evaluations for customers who use 20,000 gallons or more in two consecutive months, or 25,000 gallons in a single month during irrigation season.
Rebates may be available for smart controllers, drip systems and other water-efficient upgrades.
Use the Irrigation Runtime Calculator to find a more efficient watering schedule for your yard.

At Work

Austin Water offers resources, rebates and programs to help businesses reduce water use.

Call Austin Water at 512-974-2199 for information about commercial and industrial water-saving programs.

In the Community

Report water waste by calling 3-1-1 or using the 3-1-1 mobile app
Encourage your employer to adopt water conservation practices
Support expanded use of reclaimed water for irrigation and other non-potable uses
Attend public meetings to learn about local water supply challenges and share your input on water policy
Share water conservation tips with friends and neighbors