Indio Water Authority encourages the following Water Conservation Tools.

Visit Water Use It Wisely for 100 ways to conserve water.

Outdoors

Reseeding

• Water when temperatures are cool
  • Wait until summertime Bermuda grass is dormant. Mow low, but do not scalp. Begin reseeding when night time temperatures are consistently in the 60s (typically October and November).
• Proper sprinkler coverage is important
• Before sowing the seed, check and maintain your sprinkler system to be sure it waters uniformly and that all sprinklers are positioned properly.
• Keep seed moist, not soaked
  • Sow the rye grass seed so it is in contact with the soil. Irrigate to keep seed moist, but not soaked while it germinates. Flooding lawns during reseeding is unnecessary and wasteful.
• Water several times per day, but for brief periods
  • After the seed emerges and grass begins to grow, reduce the number of watering times per day, while increasing the duration.

Landscaping

• Look into smart “Xeriscaping” landscaping
  • Group plants according to their watering needs
  • Reduce the amount of lawn by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your region
  • Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil
  • If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions
  • Consult your local nursery on plant selection/placement for optimum outdoor water savings
  • Let your lawn go dormant during the summer - watering every three weeks or less if it rains
• Know the location of your (customer) water shut-off valve

Save water when watering your lawn

• Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering
• check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the sprinkler heads in good shape
• Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case it malfunctions or you get an unexpected rain
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation
• Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, driveway, sidewalk, or street
• Select a sprinkler that releases water slowly and close to the ground hence preventing excess evaporation
• Water the roots and soil around plants rather than spraying the leaves and flowers
• Water infrequently but thoroughly so that moisture soaks deep to the roots.
• If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption
• Don't water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates

Pools & Spa

• Repair any leaks
  • Check for leaks periodically
  • Loss of one inch of water a day is wasteful and costly
• Install a pool cover to help prevent evaporation and to keep the pool clean
• Lower the water level
• Lower the water temperature
• Equip your recirculating pumps

Cleaning

• When water is needed use a bucket of water instead of a running hose
• Use a broom to clean off the driveway and sidewalk
• Use a broom to scrub walls instead of washing them down with the hose
• Bathe your pets outdoors in an area in need of water

Washing Cars

• Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose
• Fill a bucket and use that to wash up your vehicle
• When practical have your hose water your landscape while washing your vehicle or wash your vehicle on your lawn
• Use a commercial car wash that recycles water

Indoors

Know the location of your (customer) water shut-off valve

Drinking Water

• Don’t run your faucet until water is cold, instead refrigerate a pitcher or bottle your water
• Designate one glass for drinking water or refill a water bottle, cutting down the number of glasses to wash
• If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead

Food Preparation

• Start defrosting food in the refrigerator the night before instead of running water over them to defrost them
• Use a vegetable brush when washing fruit and vegetables to conserve water

Washing Dishes

• When washing dishes, fill one sink/basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet
• Soak all dirty dishes and pans before washing them

When using a dishwasher

• Don’t pre rinse dishes, scrape off extra food with a spatula
• Soak all dirty dishes and pans before placing them in the dishwasher
• Only run the dishwasher when it is full, this will save both water and energy

Garbage Disposals

• Only use them when necessary, garbage disposals require a lot of water to function properly

Water Heaters

• Insulate hot water pipes to help heat water faster
• When waiting for water to heat up, capture the clean water in a bucket for use elsewhere

Washing Machines

• Use less hot water, use warm and cold water when possible
• To save water, only run full loads of laundry
• Check hoses for cracks that could result in leaks
• Pre-treat stains before washing them

Faucets

• Don’t let faucets run when you are not using them
• Make sure faucets are off firmly
• Replace worn out gaskets and fixtures to make sure they don’t drip or leak
• Turn off the faucet while shaving and brushing your teeth
• Install low flow water aerators to be more water efficient

Showers

• Take shorter showers to reduce water consumption
• Install a low flow shower head to conserve water

Toilet

• Only flush when necessary
• Don’t use the toilet as a waste basket
• Check for leaks by adding a few drops of food color to the tank, if the color appears in the toilet its leaking
• Replace toilet flapper with a more efficient one

At Work

Employees

• Increased workplace awareness ensures staff members are monitoring water use and taking pride in efficiency
• Make suggestions to your employer about ways to save water and money at work
• Know the location of your (customer) water shut-off valve

Facilities

• Routinely check system for leaks; repair dripping faucets, and showers, and continuously running or leaking toilets
• Consider replacing or retrofitting old appliances and fixtures with water-saving models.
• Install faucet aerators where possible
• Install automatic sensors in sinks and urinals, and foot pedals to sinks so water is never left running
• Reduce toilet water by adjusting flush valves or installing dams and flapper mechanisms.
• Turn off any unnecessary flows
• Minimize the water used in cooling equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations
• Shut off air conditioning units when and where they are not needed, since these units rely on chilled water
• Insulate hot water pipes

Landscaping

• Don’t hose down sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots
• Use time controllers on sprinkler systems
• Use drip irrigation