Lowering Your Water Bill in the Summer

In the summer, a typical single-family household uses about 30 percent of its water outside, on lawns, landscaping and gardens. To lower your water bill, use the following tips:

n Outdoor faucets leaking? Those little drips can be costly, too.

n Water early or late in the day, while the sun is low and the air is cooler, so less water is wasted through evaporation (be aware, your community may have watering restrictions in effect, and observe those).

n If you hand water, aim at the base of the plant, where the roots are; you don’t have to water the entire plant.

n Set sprinklers (preferably the droplet and not the mist-type) so they water only your vegetation and not your driveway, sidewalk or street.

n Time your sprinkler use so you don’t overwater (over watering can be as harmful to your landscape as not watering enough). Simple timers are available for under $15 that hooks right up to your faucet.