Lake Travis, Austin's drinking water source, started the warm season low and it continues to drop. With this reservoir serving more and more people in coming years, conservation has to be a way of everyday life.

Ways you can Conserve:

• Short showers & turn off the faucet while soaping up.  Get a low-flow showerhead. You can get clean in a one-minute water running time.  An outdoor shower if feasible in your backyard will allow the water used to quench the ground beneath. (Consider using camp soap)
• Only run the dishwasher when it is completely full
• Only run the washing machine when you have an XL load and use "cold" water.  It never is that cold anyway.  Clothes with few exceptions can be worn multiple times before washing. Fibers from synthetic fabrics get in our water system when washed so extending wearing cuts down on this.
• Toilets – Camp Rule for at home:  If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down. Also, cut toilet paper use by getting an added bidet attachment (lots of inexpensive options) or if you are planning on replacing a toilet the Toto Washlet-Bidet is great. Toilet paper requires a lot of water to produce!
• Watering – It is best in the evening when water can soak in and the temperatures are cooler or first thing in the morning.  Focus on Trees and plants. Grass will come back to life when we finally get rain.
• Faucets – slow flow and turn off when not actively using.

When you receive your utility bill see if you were able to use less water to the billing period than the year before. We are all in this together!

Tags: water, conservation