Each summer we see a spike in water use, mostly due to an increase in outdoor watering. According to the EPA, homeowners use two to four times as much water in the summer to keep their lawns green and gardens lush. Frequent refilling of swimming pools and children playing in sprinklers or with garden hoses can also contribute to higher outdoor water use. Inside, more frequent showering, kids who are home from school and summer house guests increase the amount of water used in kitchens and bathrooms.
To keep your water bill in check, encourage everyone in your family to be mindful about water and to reduce the amount that they use. Doing so can help ensure you are not surprised by higher than expected water bills this summer. The following tips can help you keep summer water use under control.
Irrigation Systems
Inspect irrigation systems monthly and check for leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads. Fix sprinkler heads that are broken or spraying on the sidewalk, street, or driveway.
Know your watering schedule. NRH property owners may use sprinklers or irrigation systems no more than twice per week based on the following schedule:
- Tuesday & Friday: Non-residential sites (businesses, apartments, parks, common areas)
- Wednesday & Saturday: Residential addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8
- Thursday & Sunday: Residential addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
- No watering is allowed on Mondays or between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day when more water is lost to evaporation.
Don’t overwater. If your lawn is lush and the grass springs back when stepped on, it doesn’t need more water. An inexpensive soil moisture sensor can also show the amount of moisture at the lawn’s roots and discourage overwatering. Turn your irrigation system off when rain is in the forecast. Consider upgrading to a WaterSense labeled irrigation system controller that saves water by automatically monitoring the weather and adjusting the irrigation timing as needed.
Don't leave water hoses running.
Swimming Pools
Decrease the rate of water evaporation by using a swimming pool cover, turning waterfalls and other water features off and lowering your water temperature.
Lower the water level in your swimming pool to reduce the amount of water lost to splashing.
Check your pool for leaks often, and if you find a leak get it fixed as soon as possible.
Indoor Water Use
Install a low-flow showerhead. Conventional showerheads flow at 5 gallons per minute or more, whereas low-flow showerheads typically flow at 2.5 gallons per minute or less. Reducing the amount of time each family member spends in the shower will save you even more.
Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.
Don’t let the faucet needlessly run while you’re cooking, cleaning or brushing teeth.
Check for and fix any leaking toilets or faucets. Leaks in toilets, faucets, pipes or slabs can significantly add to your monthly water bill. A running toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water a day and that can add up to about 5,500 a month or more. Visit our Water Meter Page for information on reading your meter and checking for leaks. The EPA’s Fix-A-Leak Week page also has tips on how to identify leaks that could be wasting water and increasing your bill, as well as video links that will help you fix a toilet and other household leaks.
Visit www.nrhtx.com/conservation for more ways to save water.
If you have questions or concerns about your water usage, please call 817-427-6200 to speak to a customer service representative.