City of Ames

Water & Pollution Control Department

300 East 5th Street
Building 1
Ames, Iowa 50010

Phone:
(515) 239-5150

FAX:
(515) 239-5251

Water and Pollution Control Department

Conservation > Homeowner Tips

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	Outdoor water usage can account for more than 50% of a home's water usage during the summer. Using more effective means increases efficiency and decreases your water bill. Do not over-water. Healthy lawns need no more than one inch of water a week. Installing a rain sensor means watering only when necessary. Water only in the early morning and during the evening when evaporation is minimal. Make sure only landscaped areas are being watered, not the sidewalk or the driveway. Encourage deeper grass roots by watering slower and less frequently. Dormant lawns can survive for over four weeks without water. Drip irrigation is the most effective at root penetration for individual plants. A soaker hose is an inexpensive solution. Put mulch down to minimize evaporation and increase water retention. It also helps eliminate weeds. Use a broom to clean off the sidewalk rather than a hose.
	There are many opportunities to conserve water inside as well. Repair all leaky toilets, faucets, and other fixtures. You can check the toilet for leaks by putting a couple of drops of food coloring in the tank or pick up some free leak-detection tablets by calling the water plant at 515-239-5150 or pick some up at the information desk in City Hall at 515 Clark Avenue. If in 15 minutes the color from the tank has made it into the bowl, you have a leak. Do not use the toilet as a trash can. Replace inefficient fixtures with low-flow and ultra low-flow models. While brushing your teeth and shaving, remember to turn of the faucet. Take shorter showers. Call 515-239-5150 for free showerhead flow restrictors or pick them up at the information desk in City Hall at 515 Clark Avenue. Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge rather than running the tap waiting for it to become cold. Use the garbage disposal as little as possible. Run the dishwasher and the washing machine for full loads only. (Running most dishwashers uses about 12 gallons of water; washing machines can use over 40 gallons.) Soak pots and pans rather than running the water while you scrape them clean. When watching dishes by hand put a stopper on either side of the sink and use one side to wash and one to rinse.