Publish Date
Popular Searches

Austin Water

Browse this department:
-Select-
Photo collage containing images of Austin Water employees, construction workers, and water infrastructure including pipes and treatment facilities.

Water Saving Tips

Small changes can add up to big water savings. Try these tips at home, at work and in our community to use water wisely year-round.

Download the Water Conservation Checklist (PDF) for a quick reference of indoor and outdoor tips. Learn more about Austin's Water Conservation Plan (PDF).

At Home

Laundry

  • Use clean but gently used water from your washing machine to water your landscape by setting up a laundry-to-landscape graywater system. These systems are among the easiest and least expensive to install and maintain. Review the Laundry to Landscape Guide (PDF) to get started.
  • Replace your clothes washer with a water-saving model. When shopping, compare water use across models and brands.
  • Only run full loads. If you must wash a partial load, use the lowest water setting available.
  • Hang up and reuse towels instead of washing after every use.
  • Pretreat stains to avoid rewashing.
  • Check washer hoses for cracks that could cause leaks.

Kitchen

  • Install a low-flow aerator on your kitchen faucet. Free aerators are available to Austin Water customers through the Austin Water Customer Portal.
  • When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with wash water and another with rinse water instead of running the tap.
  • Scrape food from plates instead of rinsing before loading the dishwasher. Newer dishwashers and detergents clean effectively without pre-rinsing.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl with a vegetable brush instead of under running water. Use the wash water on plants afterward.
  • Thaw frozen food overnight in the refrigerator or use your microwave's defrost setting instead of running water.
  • Chill a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until cold.
  • Cook food in as little water as possible and cover the pot. Use leftover pasta or vegetable water on plants.
  • Scrape food into the trash or compost instead of using a garbage disposal. If you use a disposal, run it only when needed.
  • Use a dishwasher rather than handwashing when possible. Efficient dishwashers use as little as four gallons per cycle. Run only full loads.
  • Use one glass for drinking water each day or refill a water bottle to reduce washing.
  • Soak pots and pans rather than scrubbing under running water.
  • Drop leftover ice cubes in a houseplant instead of the sink.

Bathrooms

Toilets

  • Replace older toilets with WaterSense labeled models that use 1.28 gallons per flush, or consider a dual-flush model that uses even less.
  • Check your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Even a small leak can waste hundreds of gallons a month.
  • Repair running toilets promptly.
  • Use the trash for tissues, insects and other small waste instead of flushing.

Baths, Showers and Faucets

  • Install water-saving aerators on bathroom faucets and showerheads that use 1.5 gallons per minute or less. Free aerators and showerheads are available to Austin Water customers.
  • Fix dripping faucets promptly.
  • Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water while waiting for it to warm up. Use that water on plants, to flush toilets or to run a disposal.
  • Take shorter showers — aim for five minutes or less. If you take a bath, fill the tub halfway or less.
  • Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, lathering, shampooing and conditioning.

Around the House

  • Check for and repair leaky faucets, fixtures and pipes inside and outside your home. Listen for dripping faucets and running toilets. Check water supply lines under sinks for damp spots or bulges that may indicate a leak.
  • Monitor your water bill for unusually high use that could signal a leak.
  • Use your water meter to check for hidden leaks. Turn off all indoor and outdoor faucets and water-using appliances, then check your meter at 10 to 20 minute intervals. If it continues to run, a leak likely exists.
  • Know where your master water shut-off valve is located so you can act quickly if a pipe breaks.
  • Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing to prevent pipe damage.

Vehicles and Outdoor Surfaces

  • Clean driveways and sidewalks with a broom instead of a hose.
  • Wash your car at a commercial car wash that recycles water. This saves hundreds of gallons compared to washing at home. During Stage 1 restrictions, vehicles may only be washed at a commercial car wash. During Conservation Stage, you may wash your car at home if you park on the grass and use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
  • Consider using a waterless cleaning product to wash your car.

Pools and Fountains

Fountains

  • Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air. During Stage 2 restrictions, fountains with aerial emission or a fall greater than four inches may not operate.
  • Use only fountains or ornamental water features that recirculate water. This is required by the Austin Water Conservation Code.

Pools

  • Avoid water toys that require a constant flow of water.
  • To reduce splash-out, avoid diving and splashing.
  • Check your pool regularly for cracks and leaks. Mark the water level at the skimmer with a grease pencil and check 24 hours later. If the pool has lost more than ¼ inch of water, it may have a leak.
  • Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation, keep the pool cleaner and reduce chemical use. Pool cover rebates may be available.
  • Lower the water temperature by a couple of degrees in heated pools to reduce evaporation.
  • Surround the pool with shrubs or fencing to reduce wind evaporation.
  • Maintain proper chemical levels and adequate circulation time to reduce how often you need to drain and refill.
  • Fill the pool a few inches lower than usual to reduce splash-out.
  • Use a hose timer when topping off to avoid overfilling.
  • Check and maintain pool auto-fillers.
  • Use a pool vacuum that recycles water when cleaning.
  • Backwash pool filters only when needed and consider manually cleaning the filter instead.

Lawns and Plants

  • Visit Grow Green for free landscape design templates, a list of drought-tolerant native and adapted plants, and video guides on rainwater harvesting maintenance and troubleshooting.
  • Install a rain barrel or rainwater harvesting system to capture roof runoff for use on your landscape. Rebates may be available.
  • Add 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch such as compost or bark around trees and plants to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Press mulch down around the drip line of each plant to form a slight depression that helps reduce runoff.
  • Use unglazed clay pots — sometimes called ollas — as a simple drip irrigation method for bedding plants. Bury the sealed pot so about one inch remains above the surface, fill with water and cover. Water seeps slowly through the porous clay directly to plant roots, typically requiring a refill once or twice a week.
  • Set your lawn mower to a higher setting. Taller grass develops deeper root systems and shades the soil to reduce moisture loss.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants and group plants with similar water needs together (called hydrozoning). Select turf varieties that match your local climate and soil conditions.
  • Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass that requires watering. Warm-season turf such as St. Augustine and Bermuda goes dormant in winter and typically gets enough water from rainfall.
  • Choose shrubs and groundcovers over turf for areas that receive little use or are difficult to water, such as steep slopes or isolated strips.
  • When you refresh your pet's water bowl or clean a fish tank, use the old water on plants. Wash pets outdoors on a patch of lawn that needs water.
  • Aerate your lawn at least once a year by punching holes about six inches apart to help water reach roots instead of running off.
  • Check soil moisture before watering. Insert a trowel or soil probe two to three inches deep. If the soil is dry at that depth, it's time to water.
  • Use a timer on hose-end sprinklers to avoid overwatering. Remember that sprinklers may only be used on your assigned watering schedule. Rebates may be available for water-efficient irrigation upgrades.
  • Use minimal organic or slow-release fertilizer to maintain a healthy, drought-tolerant landscape.
  • Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate around the base to keep soil cooler and reduce evaporation.
  • Plant during cooler months when plants need less water to establish.
  • Remove weeds from garden beds to reduce competition for water.
  • Water shaded areas about 30% less than sunny areas. Shade creates cooler temperatures and lower evaporation rates.
  • Top-dress turf with ¼ to ½ inch of compost to improve soil health.

Irrigation Systems

  • Check your watering day and current restrictions before running your irrigation system.
  • Inspect your system each spring when you first turn it on and repair leaks promptly.
  • Start with low run times and increase only if areas of stress appear in your yard.
  • Water during early morning hours when temperatures and wind speeds are lowest to reduce evaporation.
  • Even in the hottest months, most lawns need no more than one inch of water per week. Account for rainfall when setting your schedule.
  • In spring and fall, cooler temperatures mean you can water less often — once every two weeks instead of weekly in summer.
  • Turn off your irrigation system for the winter.
  • Adjust sprinkler heads so only your lawn is watered. Realign heads that spray onto pavement, structures or into tall shrubs. After mowing, check that heads haven't been knocked out of alignment.
  • Use drip irrigation for bedded plants, shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the root zone.
  • Austin Water offers free irrigation system evaluations for customers who use 20,000 gallons or more in two consecutive months, or 25,000 gallons in a single month during the irrigation season.
  • Rebates may be available for water-efficient irrigation upgrades, including smart controllers and drip systems.

Use the Irrigation Runtime Calculator to enter details about your yard and find more efficient watering schedules.

At Work

Austin Water offers resources, rebates and programs to help businesses reduce water use.

In the Community

  • Report watering violations and water waste by calling 3-1-1 or using the 3-1-1 mobile app.
  • Encourage your employer to adopt water conservation practices.
  • Support expanded use of reclaimed water for irrigation and other non-potable uses.
  • Attend public meetings to learn about local water supply challenges and share your input on water policy.
  • Share water conservation tips with friends and neighbors.