Water Conservation
Tips to Conserve & Save Money
Change Habits
- Brush teeth – Rinse brush then turn off the water
- Shaving – use a couple inches of water in the sink to rinse
- Dishes – fill the sink to rinse
- Vegetables – fill the sink to rinse them
- Toilet flushing – flush only when needed; don’t use to dispose of trash
- Bath – take shallow baths and keep showers short
- Laundry – full loads save the most water
- Dishwasher – full loads save the most water
Repair Leaks
- Check faucets and pipes for leaks
- Toilet – add food coloring to the toilet tank water, and check the bowl in 15 minutes (don’t flush). Color in the toilet bowl probably means there’s a leak.
- Outside – check hose connections, pool and filtration systems, irrigation systems
- Meter – check to see if there are leaks by reading the meter at night before going to bed when no water will be used, then read the meter again in the morning. If there is a change in the number then there is a leak somewhere in the home.
Install Water Saving Devices
- install water-efficient or low-flow fixtures
- use displacement devices (to reduce amount of water used in older toilets)
- use Rain Barrels for outdoor watering
Tips for Water Savings Outdoors
- Car Washing – Rinse, use a bucket for soap, then rinse again
- Hoses – turn off the hose each time at the house
- Pool – don’t overfill and use a solar cover to ease evaporation
- Lawn & Garden – Water early or late, let grass grow taller in hot weather, use mulch around plants, shrubs and trees, follow watering restrictions
- Plants – Use native plants, plant a xeriscape or a rain garden
Lawn Watering Tips from the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service:
- Water thoroughly so moisture gets down to the depth of the root
- Water early in the day when lawns are normally wet from dew
- Avoid midday due to evaporation
- Avoid watering at night due to potential increased chance of disease
- Avoid frequent watering, which promote shallower root systems & weeds
An important decision to make is either to water lawns consistently as needed throughout summer or let lawns go dormant as conditions turn warm and dry.
- Do not rotate back and forth between watering and not watering
- Breaking dormancy actually drains large amounts of food reserves from plants
WATER CONSERVATION ORDINANCE
The following water restrictions are in place for City of Joliet water customers year-round per city of Joliet code of ordinances, sec 31-126:
- You may only water your lawn between 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at even numbered addresses on even numbered days and at odd numbered addresses on odd numbered days. No watering is allowed at all at even numbered addresses on odd numbered days or at odd numbered addresses on even numbered days. There is no watering allowed outside the hours mentioned above.
- The only exceptions to this are homeowners or businesses who have already laid sod so as not to cause them adverse financial damages. Those homeowners who have already laid sod will be restricted the same as other water customers when their previously issued sod permits expire.
- The city of Joliet is asking for your cooperation in not watering your lawn outside of the restricted hours. These restrictions are necessary to maintain water reserves for public health needs and fire protection.
- Lawn watering is being restricted because of the large volumes of water used. There is no restriction in filling swimming pools, watering trees, shrubs, flowers or vegetable gardens.
Children's Water Conservation
We're creating a fun new children's book called "Where's the Water?" to teach kids in Joliet about water conservation, and we want to feature your kids' artwork!
We'd love to include as many drawings and colorings as possible. Just download the coloring and drawing sheets and let their creativity shine!
Once they've finished their masterpiece, you can submit it in one of two ways:
By submitting their art, you're giving us permission to potentially use it in the book. If we use their drawing or coloring, we'll give your child full credit and recognition.
We can't wait to see all the amazing creations!
Free Practical Plumbing Handbook for Joliet Utility Customers
The City of Joliet Public Utilities Department has copies available of the the national edition of the Practical Plumbing Handbook, an excellent resource on how to repair and perform preventative maintenance on the fixtures in your home.
The booklet provides useful information on conserving water and fixing many common problems that may cause unintended water waste.
The Handbooks are available for FREE to current utility customers at the City of Joliet Information Desk at Joliet City Hall, 150 W Jefferson Street.