Water Conservation Tips

Conserving our natural resources and being a good environmental steward is a core value at RPU. Energy and water conservation efforts help to preserve our planet's natural resources, reduce air emissions, delay the need for additional generating facilities, reduce the need to purchase expensive power during peak demand periods, and promote a healthy environment.

Over the past ten years, by working with residential and commercial customers, we yielded water savings of over 84,350,839 gallons and reduced electric consumption by 306,844,440 kilowatt-hours. In addition, we annually sponsor a community-wide Arbor Day celebration, support local tree planting efforts and other local environmental events.

Water Conservation

Saving Water in the Kitchen

• When cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water.
• Don’t continuously run the water when washing and rinsing dishes.
• Only run the dishwasher when it's full.
• When buying a dishwasher, select an Energy Star® model with a "light-wash" option.
• Only use the garbage disposal when necessary (composting is a great alternative).
• Repair leaking faucets.
• Install WaterSense® water-saving faucet aerators.
• Keep a bottle/jug of drinking water in the refrigerator – running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful.

Saving Water in the Bathroom

• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Turn off the water to brush teeth and soap up in the shower. Fill the sink to shave.
• Repair leaking faucets.
• Install WaterSense® water-saving faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads.
• Repair leaky toilets. Add 12 drops of food coloring into the tank, and if color appears in the bowl one hour later, your toilet is leaking.
• When needed, replace your toilet with a WaterSense® high-efficiency model.
• 30% of home water use is flushed down the toilet – avoid unnecessary flushing and you’ll save big.
• Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket.

Saving Water in the Laundry Room

• Wash only full loads of laundry, or set the machine for the correct sized load.
• When purchasing a new clothes washer, buy an Energy Star® high-efficiency model, which uses 45% less water than regular washers.
• Repair leaking faucets.
• Hang towels to dry and use them multiple times instead of washing after each use.

Saving Water Outdoors

• Apply mulch around shrubs and flower beds to reduce evaporation, promote plant growth, and control weeds.
• Maximize the use of natural vegetation and establish smaller lawns. Consider planting more trees, shrubs, ground covers, and less grass.
• Add compost or an organic matter to soil as necessary, to improve soil conditions and water retention.
• When mowing your lawn, set the mower blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil improving moisture retention, allowing it to grow thicker and develop a deeper root system.
• Only water the lawn when necessary. Step on the grass. If it spring back up, it doesn’t need watering. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. Water your lawn during early morning or later evening hours to minimize evaporation and to ensure the water get soaked up by the lawn.
• Replace a standard clock timer with a WaterSense® labeled, weather-based irrigation controller, which can save an average home nearly 8,800 gallons of water annually.
• Collect rainfall in a rain barrel for irrigation.
• When washing a car, wet it quickly, then use a bucket of soapy water to wash the car. Turn on the hose to final rinse. Or take your car to a self-serve car wash, which will use half the water of a home wash.
• Use a broom to clean walkways, driveways, decks and porches, rather than hosing off these areas.
• Repair leaking outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.

Download RPU's Water Conservation Tips Brochure.