Items You Can Install To Save Water

According to American Water and Energy Savers, a faucet dripping at the rate of one-drop per second can amount to 2,700 gallons in a year. Conservation experts at Home Depot suggest the following items to make sure every drop of water count.

1. Timers. Over-watering your lawn is a huge waste of water and with the time limit given with water restrictions, timers could help save you a lot of time, money and heartache. Estimated cost: $11 to $23.

2. Fix Leaking Hoses. This is a big step toward water conservation. Hose repair kits are simple to use, they save water and are affordably priced at about $5 each.

3. Fix Leaky Sprinklers. Back flow preventors save water by stopping leaks and are cheaper than buying new sprinklers. Prices range from $5 to $8 depending on sprinkler type.

4. Nozzles. Always use a nozzle or a sprinkler wand on the end of a hose; never let water just run. To assure a tight fit, replace the rubber washer inside the nozzle. In addition, for older hoses with worn threads, wrap a ribbon of Teflon tape around the threads before screwing on the nozzle. Estimated cost: $3 to $10.

5. Mulch. During a dry spell, wind can further dry out foliage. A light coating of mulch in your garden or flowerbeds will help preserve moisture. Estimated cost: $3 to $6 per bag.

6. Soaking Hose. These special hoses allow water to flow slowly out of holes delivering water exactly where you need it. They are an effective way to water a garden or flowerbed without runoff. Estimated cost: $12 to $24.

7. Shorter Sprinkler Hoses. Home Depot offers a variety of sprinkler hoses ranging in length and diameter to help control the flow of water. Smaller hoses use less water and work well with most sprinklers. Prices range from $8 to $30, depending on the diameter and length of each.

8. Slow Release Lawn Food. Use a dry, slow-release lawn and plant food. Some do not require water and they won't burn grass or plants. Avoid using fertilizers until water restrictions ease up or it rains. Estimated cost: $7 to $15 per bag.

9. Self-Watering Pots These flowerpots let you water indoor plants or outdoor patio plants from the bottom. You use far less water than watering plants form the top. Estimated cost: $8 to $15.

10. Drought-Resistant Plants If you plan ahead, and pick your plants/landscape wisely, you can still have a beautiful garden with plants that require little to no watering once they're established. Some hardy plants include Russian Sage, Dusty Miller and Shasta Daisy/Alaskan Daisy.

11. Faucet Repair Kits. Complete faucet repair kits or individual parts are available to fix most any kitchen or bathroom leak. Bring original faucet parts into the store to assure you're buying the right replacements. Estimated cost: $2 to $6.

12.Water Restrictors For Showers Install water restrictors to lower the volume of water coming out of a showerhead, yet maintain the water pressure. Also, consider replacing an older showerhead with a new model or install a shut of valve near the showerhead, which will enable you to maintain your derived temperature while temporarily turning off the water to lather up. You'll save about 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Estimated cost: $12 to $20.

3. Toilet Repair Kits. A running toilet is a real water waster. Individual parts or complete repair kits are available for any type of toilet. Again, bring the original parts into the store to match with replacement parts. Estimated cost: $2 to $20.