Tips for saving water

Using water wisely can lower your monthly water bill, keep your lawn and landscape healthy and help the environment by keeping more water in our rivers.

Landscape watering accounts for nearly all the increase in water usage during the spring and summer growing season. But by taking a few simple steps, you can use water more efficiently without changing your lifestyle. The tips below will help you "Slow the Flow."

Outdoors at home
  • Don't automatically increase water usage when a hot spell hits. Lawns and gardens that have had regular, deep soaks can weather short periods of extreme heat.
  • Use timers to avoid over watering your yard and garden. Eugene Water & Electric Board offers a $25 rebate on qualifying underground system models.
  • Follow weekly watering guidelines published on our online Green Grass Gauge or call EWEB's Waterline at (541) 685-7000.
  • Mulch plants generously to retain moisture in the root zone.
  • Consider soaker hoses or a drip irrigation system for your vegetable garden, shrubs and flower beds.
  • Aerate your lawn in the spring or fall, top dress with compost and apply a healthy compost tea. This promotes deep root growth, improves water infiltration rates and water holding capacity of soils, and improves overall soil health.
  • Plant native or water-wise species.
  • Look for sprinkler, hose or faucet leaks and fix them.
Inside at home
  • Replace old toilets with new, low-flow models.
  • Look for leaks and fix them. A leaky toilet can consume thousands of gallons of water per month.
  • Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when you have full loads.
  • Replace a worn-out clothes washer or dishwasher with a more efficient ENERGY STAR® model. In addition to energy savings, newer models use less water. EWEB offers rebates for qualifying appliances.
At work
  • Call the Eugene Water & Electric Board's commercial water experts at (541) 685-7000, for advice on how you can use water more efficiently in your business, industrial facility, school or other workplace.
  • Increase employee awareness of water conservation.
  • Install motion-activated faucets, other flow reducers or aerators in all plumbing fixtures.
  • Use timers on all outdoor sprinkler systems.
  • Assign an employee to monitor water use and make suggestions for using water more efficiently.
  • Check your water system, toilets, faucets or manufacturing processes for leaks.
  • Wash vehicles less often.
  • Use brooms to clean sidewalks and steps instead of hosing them down.
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Questions?

For more tips on how to save water and lower your bill, call (541) 685-7000.