Water Conservation
Simple Steps to Save Water Outdoors and Indoors
Outdoor Tips
- During cooler months, water your lawn every other week. Yards do not need watering as much during this time.
- Water your lawn wisely. Irrigation systems account for about half of all residential water use.
- Maintain your irrigation system. Be sure to fix broken heads or lines & readjust misdirected sprinkler heads.
- Water your lawn during the early morning (before 10 AM) or early evening hours (after 4 PM). When temperatures are the lowest, it reduces evaporation which in turn saves water.
- Use the “Catch Can” method. This can help to determine how much water to apply to your yard, & to see if you are watering uniformly across the landscape area.
- Catch Can Method: Place five to seven wide-mouthed, flat bottom cans (e.g. a tuna can) throughout the areas to be watered. Irrigate each area as you normally would. When you have finished irrigating an area, measure the depth of water in each can. Average the measurements & use this number to determine how long you need to water to apply three-quarters of an inch in each irrigation zone.
- Be sure you're following the City's watering restrictions.
Indoor Tips
- Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
- Wait until the dishwasher and washing machine is full before turning it on.
- Install a water aerator on your kitchen faucet. An aerator allows the water pressure to remain the same but can help to reduce water use by as much as one full gallon every minute.
- Check for leaks regularly. Check under all sinks and crawl spaces. A leaky toilet or faucet can waste thousands of gallons of water each month.
- Install low-flow toilets and showerheads. This can dramatically reduce your indoor water use.
- Free Water Saving Device: Have a free water-saving showerhead and toilet flapper delivered to your residence; contact Utility Billing at 407-327-5996. These devices can reduce the water used for showering and at the sink by 50% while still providing excellent pressure.
- Take shorter showers. Try shortening your time in the shower by two minutes.
- Fill your bath up halfway. Once in the tub, the water should rise to a comfortable level.
- When purchasing appliances that use water, consider high-efficiency machines.
Free Water Audit
We want to help you reduce your water usage and lower your water bill by offering a free water audit. Request an audit by contacting Winter Springs Utility Billing at 407-327-5996.
St. Johns River Water Management District resources
The St. Johns River Water Management District offers several resources on water conservation education and outreach, which can be found here.
Residents can also anonymously report violations via the SJRWMD Irrigation Reporting page.