Office of Conservation

Ground Water Resources Program >> Water Conservation Tips

 The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources recommends the following water conservation tips:

  • Use washing machines and dishwashers only when they are fully loaded. Skip any nonessential rinse cycles, use the proper water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
  • Take showers instead of baths. An average five-minute shower uses 25 to 50 gallons of water, each extra minute consumes 5 to 10 gallons.
  • Don't run water while shaving, brushing teeth, or washing dishes by hand. Shut off the water while you brush.
  • Don't hand-wash or pre-wash the dishes; the dishwasher uses half the water.
  • It takes two to seven gallons of water to flush a toilet. Leaks inside the toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day. Toilet leaks can be detected by adding a few drops of food coloring to water in the toilet tank. If the colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking.
  • Place a weighted plastic gallon jug in the tanks of conventional toilets to displace and save an equal amount of water with each flush.
  • Turn off the water in the shower while soaping or shampooing.
  • Use a dishpan or plug the sink for washing and rinsing dishes, if a dishwasher is not available.
  • Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks.
  • Water your garden during the coolest part of the day. Do not water on windy days.
  • Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface and cut down on weed growth, which will reduce water needs.
  • Collect water with a bucket while waiting for the shower water to heat up and use it later for watering plants.
  • Inspect and repair all leaking faucets, pipes, hoses, and toilets.
  • Install new showerheads and sink faucets equipped with water saving devices, such as aerators or spray taps.
  • Refrigerate tap water to avoid running the faucet for a long period to get cold water.
  • Direct downspouts, gutters and air conditioner drips toward shrubbery or trees, and collect rainwater in a large bucket for other outside uses.
  • Cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation.