To reduce water use:

• Run water only when necessary. Don't run water while brushing teeth or turn on the shower many minutes before use.• Check for household leaks. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day.• Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, steps, and sidewalks.• Wash the car with water from a bucket. If a hose is used, control the flow with an automatic shut off nozzle.• Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only, not the street or sidewalk.• Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems to reduce the amount of water used by 20 to 50 percent.• Mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil and inhibit weeds.• native plants require less care and water than ornamental varieties.• Cover swimming pools to prevent evaporation.• Adjust the lawn mower to a higher setting to provide natural ground shade and to promote water retention by the soil.Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection