DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management provides its customers with high quality, safe drinking water.

Do-It-Yourself Household Water Assessment

How you can save water in the bathroom.

A bathroom sink runs at approximately two gallons per minute. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face and hands.

Each toilet flush uses approximately 1.28 to 5 gallons of water. Do not flush the toilet unnecessarily and consider not flushing after each use.

Reduce the amount of water used by your toilet by placing a one-gallon plastic jug in the tank or install a "dam" to partition off a portion of the tank. This can save over 1,000 gallons of water per person
per year.

Take a quick shower rather than a bath

Install a water efficient showerhead

Install aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets to reduce indoor water
use

How you can save water in the kitchen and other places.

A kitchen sink runs at approximately 2.5 gallons per minute. Keep a water bottle in the refrigerator for a source of cold water.

Use the dishwasher rather than washing dishes in the sink. The dishwasher uses approximately 14-17 gallons per cycle so make sure each load is full.

Reduce the amount of pre-rinsing before loading the dishwasher.

If you have to wash dishes by hand, rinse them in a sink partially filled with clean water rather than rinsing them under running water.

Thaw frozen food overnight in the refrigerator, not under running water.

Wash vegetables in a sink or a bowl filled with water. Reuse the water for indoor plants or other uses.

Place food scraps in the garbage rather than using the garbage disposal.

Washing machines use approximately 45 gallons per full load. Adjust the washer to the appropriate load size for each use.

Insulate hot water pipes and your water heater to reduce the amount of time necessary for the hot water to reach the tap.

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Outdoor Water Conservation Tips

Water early in the morning or late evening, never in the heat of the day or on a windy day (when most of the water will evaporate). Inexpensive timers can also be installed on outdoor faucets to control the period of irrigation and to prevent using water unnecessarily.

How often and how much should we water?

Lawn:

One inch per week is enough. If you leave footprints along the grass, it is time to water. Over watering can cause grass to be less hardy.

Place a can in the area being watered to measure the amount of water your sprinkler delivers.

Consider letting lawns go. Even fescue lawns will green up again when it rains.

Never water grass daily; except when establishing new lawns. Then, only water during recommended times.

Don't fertilize the yard when it's hot; it causes faster growth, which needs more water. Fertilization is not recommended during extended dry periods because fertilizers are chemical salts and can actually dehydrate the roots of plants.

Maintain your lawn at a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches - this reduces heat stress and evaporation.

Keep spas and pools covered when not in use - an average size pool can loose up to 1,000 gallons of water a month from evaporation.

Check home swimming pools for leaks and lower pool water level to minimize the amount splashed out.

What about washing the car?

When washing cars or other vehicles at home, rinse lightly, wash from a bucket, then rinse again. Obey watering restrictions.

Use a commercial car wash that recycles its water.

Event Calendar

Water Conservation