CZ-Tip - Save Water

Although summer usually marks the peak of water shortages in Massachusetts, saving water should be a year-round goal. Water conservation helps maintain water levels in rivers and streams, which is essential for protecting habitats as well as the quality of the water that runs to the sea. The following information will help you to use water wisely in your home, yard, and business.

Information on Drought Conditions

• The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) maintains a Drought Status page with press releases on drought status, statewide drought maps, and tips on water conservation. DCR also maintains a Current Conditions page with information on rainfall conditions, streamflow, and groundwater levels.
• The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Massachusetts Drought Watch page has links to average streamflow maps and drought advisories, along with information on national drought conditions and links to USGS drought publications.
• The U.S. Drought Portal provides extensive information on drought conditions nationwide, a regional drought early warning system, forecasts, and a variety of tools for planning for and dealing with droughts.

Water Conservation in Your Home

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense Program provides water efficiency information and links to what you can do to save water, the benefits of water efficiency, and an online water-savings calculator.
• The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Tips for Saving Water at Home page provides a list of easy ways to conserve water (and reduce your water bill).
• MWRA's Water-Efficient Appliances and Fixtures page gives information on low-flow toilets and water-efficient clothes washers and dishwashers.
• The Operation WaterSense Program from MWRA offers free water-saving fixtures to its residential customers.
• The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's (MassDEP) Tips for Saving Water Indoors and Outdoors page gives dozens of ideas for reducing water use in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry, as well as outdoors.

Water Conservation in Your Yard

• EPA's WaterSense Program page on outdoor water use gives links to information on designing a water-efficient landscape, watering wisely, and finding water-saving landscape irrigation services, along with a photo gallery of water-efficient landscapes from across the country.
• The MWRA Garden and Landscaping Water Conservation Tips page gives detailed information on saving water with your lawn, along with other water-conscious landscaping approaches.
• The MassDEP Lawns & Landscapes in Your Watershed web page provides information on landscape design and maintenance that protects your family and local water resources.
• Water-Efficient Landscaping (PDF, 1.64 MB) by EPA explains advantages and principles of wise water use.
• The Natural Resources Conservation Service's Water Conservation web page gives information on choosing the right plants, effective watering approaches, and more.
• The Water Use and Conservation Facts web page by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) gives tips on reducing the amount of water used for lawn and landscape maintenance.
• More Than Just a Yard: Ecological Landscaping Tools for Massachusetts Homeowners (PDF, 1.42 MB) from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs gives details on environmentally friendly landscaping, which includes information on water conservation.
• The Massachusetts Water Resources Commission's Guide to Lawn and Landscape Water Conservation (PDF 316 KB) provides information for property owners, public officials, and water supply managers.

Water Conservation in Your Business

• The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) offers a range of support and information to help facilities improve water use efficiency, comply with federal and state regulations, reduce wastewater discharge, and implement other effective water conservation measures. See the OTA Water Conservation Services page for details.
• Overview of Water Conservation Techniques and Resources for Massachusetts Industries (PDF, 117.61 KB), a fact sheet by OTA, gives information on developing and implementing a water conservation strategy.
• The OTA Case Studies web page has links to descriptions of how OTA has helped Massachusetts businesses conserve water.
• EPA's Water Conservation Tips for Businesses web page gives links to EPA technical assistance efforts for businesses, along with water saving tips.
• The MWRA Commercial & Institutional Water Management web page can help industries, businesses, offices, and institutions implement practical, cost-effective water conservation and management techniques.

General Water Conservation Information

• H₂OUSE website is a virtual encyclopedia of water conservation information for your home, with information on fixtures, appliances, hot water systems, pools and spas, water meters, landscaping and other outdoor water use, and alternative water supplies, including information on available financial incentives and rebates.
• More than 100 Ways to Conserve are available from the Water - Use It Wisely website.
• WaterWiser® from the American Water Works Association is a comprehensive clearinghouse of resources on water conservation, efficiency, and demand management for conservation professionals and the larger water supply community.
• The Water Conservation Resources - Save Every Drop! page from air-n-water.com gives links to dozens of sources of information on the whys and hows of conserving water—from scary water usage statistics to the little things that add up to big water savings.
• Teaching Kids about Water Conservation, a web page produced by PartSelect, gives links to both information on general water conservation and teaching about the topic.
• The Water Page, which is managed by Water Web Management Limited (United Kingdom) under contract to Water Policy International Limited, gives links to general information on water conservations, suggestions on how to teach about water conservation, and information about the water cycle.