General Maintenance: Check all of your faucets, drains and pipes for worn washers, tiny leeks. If you are using PVC pipe, they can easily become loosened by plunging actions or anything that causes pressure. Outside check your hose connections and replace if anything is leaking.

Leak Checks: to make a "leak check" make sure NO water is running in the house or outside and read your water meter-write it down, and check again in 2 hours. If it changed but you didn't use any water, then there is a leak somewhere. You can check toilet leaks by adding food coloring to your toilet tank. Don't use the toilet after adding the color for 30 minutes. If color appears in that time there is a leak. You may need to check the parts to see if they look worn out, or are corroded. Hardwares or home improvement stores carry replacement kits.

Bathroom Tips: Take shorter showers. If you have kids give them a bath all at once or take turns in the bathtub, where you can use the same water (warming if need be). Use a timer in the bathroom to help everyone take quick baths and showers. Don't leave the water running while brushing your teeth, washing your face, hands etc. Only use what you need!

Kitchen Tips: Again, don't use running water for washing or rinsing dishes, vegetables or fruits. Keep drinking water in the refrigerator for family to grab rather than running tap water until it's cold. When boiling vegetables in water, consider saving the water for soup, rather than throwing it out. Use the water you have leftover from washing fruits and vegetables on your plants! Consider using your fruits and vegetable scraps in a compost pile rather than use a garbage disposal, which takes quite a bit of extra water to properly run.

PAT'S TIPS:

Please use a bucket of water and a brush where you can, a wet-dry shop vac can remove debris before washing. Sweep porches, patios, walkways and driveways only, don't hose down. Dump gray water on plants and lawns not down drains. We are not supposed to wash our own cars unless they are on the grass or you go to a car-wash that recycles their water.