1. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.

2. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1,000 gallons a month.

3. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.

4. When you shop for a new appliance, consider one offering cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water and energy-efficient than older appliances.

5. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.

6. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.

7. Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.

8. Reduce the amount of grass in your yard by planting shrubs, and ground cover with rock and granite mulching.

9. Water your plants deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.

10. Avoid installing ornamental water features and fountains that spray water in the air. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation.

11. Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Check with your local water agency to see how much rain is needed to skip an irrigation cycle.

12. Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.

13. Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden with a hose.

14. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.

15. Landscape with Xeriscape trees, plants and groundcovers. Call your local conservation office for more information about these water thrifty plants.

16. Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you wash your car and save more than 100 gallons.

17. Bermuda grasses are dormant (brown) in the winter and will only require water once every three to four weeks or less if it rains.

18. Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops of water and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.

19. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure only to water plants when necessary.

20. Bathe your pets outdoors in an area in need of water.

21. Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.

22. To save water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.

23. For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cood drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.

24. Don't water your lawn on windy days. After all, sidewalks and driveways don't need water.

25. Wash clothes only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons each month.