1	Water Use and Conservation Getting the most out of your private well through conservation and smart landscaping
2	Introduction: Well capacity and your well permit will determine the amount of water and types of use you are allowed Conservation will help you to get the most out of your water supply
3	How much water do you need? How much do you use? Rule of thumb: Each person in the household requires between 50-100 gallons per day Approximate average = 75 gallons/day/person Thus: A family of 4 uses 300 gal/day or 9000 gal/month Approx. 55% of total residential use is for outdoor watering
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5	Storage Capacity of Well Casing or Pipe
6	Where Does the Water Go? Outdoor water use accounts for 40% - 50% of annual residential water use An old toilet uses about 6 gal/flush low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons or less per flush Of indoor usage: showers – about 20% of indoor water use faucets (kitchen and bath) – 16% clothes washer – 22% toilets – 27% dishwasher (kitchen) – 10%
7	Bathroom Water Conservation: Install an efficient toilet –1.6 gal/flush or less Put a gallon jug of water in the reservoir to displace some water in a pre-1994 toilet don’t use bricks – they can dissolve and cause stoppage problems Low-flow showerhead – usually 2.5 gpm or less Showers instead of baths Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth
8	Outdoor Water Use: Changes with the season and weather conditions Dependant upon conditions for evapotranspiration
9	Evapotranspiration: A combination of: evaporation transpiration Total water taken up by the air from plants, soil, and open water bodies Changes daily with weather
10	Outdoor Water Use and Evapotranspiration Knowing the approximate water need of your landscaping and garden will save water Turn off your sprinkler system during cool or wet weather
11	ET and Water Conservation In Colorado: landscape water needs can exceed 1/3” a day Watering in the early morning will increase efficiency evaporative losses are minimized Using conservation techniques can lower water requirements: mulching (lower evaporation) drought-tolerant plants
12	Conservation Around the House Run your clothes washer on a full load Don’t hose down your house or sidewalks – brooms work just as well! Fix your drips! A faucet that drips 60 times a minute (once a second) wastes over 3 gallons per day and over 1,225 gallons per year!!!
13	Outdoor Conservation: Turn your sprinkler off during cool, moist weather When mowing your lawn, set your blade at the highest level possible, and leave the clippings on the lawn for mulch Avoid watering when hot and windy Manage your irrigation systems for plant needs
14	Landscaping: Mulching your beds provides a barrier to moisture loss, and you won’t have to water as much or as often Selecting plants based on water requirement is a smart way to save water
15	Maximizing Precipitation Efficiency Know how to adjust your sprinkler system for cool or wet weather Have landscape that reduces runoff Direct your drain spouts at landscaped areas Pay attention to weather forecasts
16	Graywater vs. Warm-up Water Graywater use is different from the reuse of “warm-up” water – the water flowing out of your tap as you wait for the shower or faucet to warm up Warm-up water may be captured and used for any type of landscape or household use See CSUCE factsheet #6.702 for more information
17	Conclusion: Understanding your well’s storage capacity will help you use water more efficiently Indoor conservation involves adjusting practices and changing minor hardware Efficiently using well water and available precipitation will help you conserve water outdoors