United Water Idaho encourages our customers to develop water conserving habits. When you conserve water, you preserve a precious natural resource and save on your water bill. We have a comprehensive conservation program to help our customers use water more wisely. There are many ways you can save water both inside the home and outside. For more information or for literature on how to save water, give call us at 362.7336 or e-mail us at uwid@unitedwater.com.

Water-efficient landscaping is one of the best ways to enhance the beauty of our surroundings and preserve our most precious natural resource -- water. It's just smart gardening. Water-wise landscaping techniques are actually quite simple, but can translate into substantial savings during summer months, when water consumption increases by at least 40 percent. The number of ways to create beautiful, water-wise landscapes are limited only by the imagination. Let these seven principles of water-efficient landscaping be your guide to growing a gorgeous garden:

1. Planning and Design: A good design will produce the highest quality landscape at the least possible cost with limited maintenance and water requirements. Begin with a base map, taking advantage of the natural climate conditions in your yard by grouping plants with similar water needs.
   
   
2. Appropriate Plant Selection: Note areas in your yard that are hot, dry, shady, or damp. Check the watering requirements of your plants. This will help you to place the right plant in the right place.
   
   
3. Practical Turf Areas: Grass should be grown only in areas where it provides functional benefit. Substitute less water-demanding materials, such as ground covers or mulches, elsewhere. Rock, wood or concrete pathways and patio areas can be added to decrease water use while enhancing your yard, creating interest in the landscape.
   
   
4. Efficient Irrigation: A well-planned, well-designed, well-timed sprinkler system saves money and reduces water waste. Adding a moisture sensor can save even more money. Adjust the timer on your sprinkler system to compensate for changing weather conditions.
   
   
5. Soil Improvements: Soils improved with organic matter allow for better water absorption and water-holding capacity. Properly enrich your soils with compost or peat moss. Then stand back to watch your plants thrive and grow!
   
   
6. Mulching: Mulches cover and cool soil, minimize weed growth, slow erosion and evaporation and provide landscape interest.
   
   
7. Good Maintenance: A water-efficient landscape is healthier and uses minimal amounts of water, fertilizer and pesticides.

Here are some simple things you can do to conserve water outside your home and save money in your wallet.

• Use a broom, not a hose to clean off your sidewalks and driveways.
• Cover your pool to reduce evaporation.
• Water the lawn deeply and infrequently during the coolest time of the day to promote a deep root system.
• Avoid watering when it is windy, hot or raining
• Water only when your lawn needs it. A good test to see if your lawn needs to be watered is by stepping on the grass. If the grass springs back up, it does not need to be watered. If it stays flat, turn on the sprinkler.
• Inspect your sprinkler heads frequently. Keep them free of grass and other debris. Make sure water sprays where it’s needed, not the sidewalks and driveway!
• Make sure your hose has a shut-off nozzle.
• Mow high and often, leave the grass clippings. Don’t cut your grass any shorter than three inches. Longer grass provides natural shading to the ground and keeps the moisture in the soil.
• Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots and retains the moisture.
• Use less fertilizer. By fertilizing less, you’ll slow down grass growth and use less water.
• Add some drought tolerant plants to your landscaping. A wide variety of water-conserving plants thrive in a semi-arid climate like the Treasure Valley.

Here are some simple things you can do to conserve water inside your home and save money in your wallet.

• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
• Never use your toilet as a wastebasket.
• If you do not have a low-flow toilet, place a water disbursement device in the tank.
• Take shorter showers or install water saving shower heads.
• Plug the bathtub before turning the water on and adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
• Wash full loads of laundry and run your dishwasher only when full.
• When you need a new water-using appliance, choose a water-efficient model. High efficiency models save gallons compared to their non-efficient counterparts.
• Garbage disposals require a lot of water; compost food scraps.
• Wrap hot water pipes with insulation so you waste less while the water heats up.
• Repair leaks! Dripping faucets and broken pipes can waste gallons of water and dollars.
• Familiarize yourself with where your master shut-off valve is located. If a pipe was to burst, a quick response will save gallons of water and damage to your home.

We offer this complimentary service to any customer concerned about high water use, and high water bills, during summer months. For more information on our residential water audit program, please send a note to uwid@unitedwater.com.

E-mail: uwid@unitedwater.com

United Water is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of its WaterSense program. Look for the WaterSense label to choose quality, water-efficient products.