Topic: Water Conservation "It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose, should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life." ~ Rachel Carson

* Don't use your toilet as a wastepaper basket. Throw tissues in the garbage.

* Don't run water unnecessarily.

* Turn water off while shaving, brushing teeth and scrubbing dishes.

* Keep drinking water in the refrigerator, rather than letting the tap run till the water gets cool.

* Instead of using water to thaw frozen food,defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.

* Scrape dishes, instead of rinsing them, before loading the dishwasher.

* Take showers instead of baths, and make them short. When you do take a bath, close the drain first, then turn on the water. Don't fill the tub more than halfway.

* Use your machines efficiently.

* Wait for a full load to run the dishwasher.

* Use the shortest wash cycle your dishwasher allows, unless dishes are very dirty.

* Select the appropriate water level or load size on your washing machine.

* Use a broom or rake instead of a hose to clear debris from driveways and other paved areas outside.

* Water your lawn and plants in the early morning or late evening when the temperature is lower.

* Put a layer of organic mulch around your plants.

* Keep a pool cover on the pool when it's not in use.

* Put a small basin in your sink to collect water. Reuse the water for plants and cleaning.

* Take your car to a commercial car wash that recycles water.

* Replace conventional toilets with ultra-low flow toilets, and save an average of 4 gallons per flush. Alternatively, put plastic containers filled with water in your toilet tanks. This saves less, but still helps. (Just keep the containers away from the flush mechanism.)

* Install low-flow aerators and showerheads to save 2-3 gallons on average per minute.

* Get a horizontal-axis washing machine. They're more expensive, but they reduce water usage by about 50%. Contrary to popular belief, top-loading models are available.

* Control water flow in hoses with automatic shut-off nozzles.

* Repair all leaks, which can cost tens of thousands of gallons a year. A leaky toilet alone can waste 200 gallons per dayÑand the leak is often invisible. To see if you have one, add food coloring to the tank water. You know there's a leak if colored water appears in the bowl.