A Winter Water Deficit

3. If you don't have low-flow toilets (ones that use less than 2 gallons of water per flush) place a rock filled plastic container in the tank. Don't use a brick, it will disintegrate over time, fail to displace water and make a mess in the tank.

4. Don't leave the water running while brushing you teeth or shaving.

5. Install water saving devices in showerheads and faucets.

6. Fix leaks. This saves more than water. I replaced a drippy kitchen sink faucet last summer and my electricity bill dropped $30 a month. If you have your own well, remember that pump runs on 220 volts.

7. Peel and clean your garden produce in a large bowl of water rather than under the tap or hose.

8. Water your lawn and garden in the early morning to avoid evaporation. This also helps reduce mildew and other diseases.

9. Set mower blades at the highest setting. Keeping the grass longer retains moisture in the individual blades and reduces midsummer browning.

10. Don't use a hose to clean your driveway and patio. Sweep it with a broom instead.

DES says household water use in New Hampshire is second only to consumption by power plant coolant water. If everyone cut back on their water use by 15%, we'd save 11.2 million gallons of water a day in New Hampshire alone. That's enough water to supply 16,000 homes. If you have any water saving tips, please post them in the discussion area for this column, because water conservation isn't just a good idea during a drought; it should be a way of life for the new millennium.

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