Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
Have your children play in the sprinkler only when it’s time to water the lawn.
Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Clean the car with a bucket of soapy water and use the hose just to rinse it off.
Use covers to cut down on water evaporation from outdoor pools and hot tubs.
Check for hidden water leaks. How? Read your water meter at the start and end of a period of time when you use no water, such as while you’re away from home.
First, read your water meter before you leave (take a photo or write down the reading and note the position of the ‘needle’.)
Second, when you return, before using any water, read your meter again. If the reading has changed, water has flowed through the meter, perhaps indicating a leak.
Contact SUB Conservation Connection if you have questions.
You can also leave a piece of paper under your faucets overnight to check for leaks.
While you wait for hot water to come through your pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or in the garden.
And remember, your City of Springfield sewer/stormwater charges are based on how much water you use from December through April – so saving water in winter can save you money in summer!
