The American Water Works Association recommends the following steps to help conserve water:

• Don't over water your lawn. Only water every three to five days in the summer and 10 to 14 days in the winter.
• To prevent water loss from evaporation, don't water your lawn during the hottest part of the day or when it is windy.
• Only run the dishwasher and clothes washer when they are fully loaded.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
• When washing dishes by hand, use two basins - one for washing and one for rinsing rather than let the water run.
• Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean sidewalks and driveways.
• If you have a swimming pool, get a cover. You'll cut the loss of water by evaporation by 90 percent.
• Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day.