Help play a role in ensuring the continued availability of our water supply
Everyone can play a role in ensuring the continued availability of our water supply. Water conservation should not be for emergencies - it should be a way of life.
Conserving water today saves you money on your water and sewer bills, and reduces the cost of building new water and wastewater infrastructure.
Tips and tricks
There are hundreds of things one can do to conserve water. Some are very simple, but all of them begin with you. Here you will find tips and programs to reduce your water use by stopping leaks, slowing the flow, and using water wisely.
Saving water in the bathroom
- Check for a faulty toilet flapper/stop valve by adding a few drops of food dye into the tank and waiting about 15 minutes
- Get an ultra-low-flow toilet, which uses only 1.6 gallons per flush
- Save about 20 gallons of water by only filling the bathtub halfway
- Save between 15 to 30 gallons by reducing shower time by 5 minutes
- Install a low-flow showerhead
- Add a shutoff device at the showerhead to turn it off while lathering
- Turn off the sink while brushing your teeth or shaving
Saving water in the kitchen
- Hand-washing typically uses 16 gallons of water, compared to only 9.2 to 12.4 gallons for the dishwasher
- Avoid pre-rinsing dishes
- Only turn on the dishwasher when it is full
- Put a jug of water in the fridge instead of letting the water run until cold
Saving water in the laundry room
- Wash full loads
- Buy a high-efficiency model washer
Saving water in the yard and garden
- Adjust sprinkler heads so they are not watering sidewalks, driveways and roads.
- Replace broken sprinkler heads
- Only water when lawn or plants shows signs of needing it
- Set you mower blade higher during growing season since tall grass retains moisture better than short grass
- Install low-volume irrigation systems for plants where possible
- Plant native and drought-tolerant plants, bushes and flowers
- Install paths, decks/patios and other Florida-friendly landscaping to reduce the amount of lawn area that needs watering
- Follow water use restrictions, and skip a week of irrigation, when possible
Programs and resources for all customers
- Water conservation rebates - eleven rebates are available for plumbing fixtures, irrigation devices, food service equipment, and more
- On-site irrigation evaluations – free on-site irrigation evaluation services for high water users irrigating with metered water
- Personalized landscape and irrigation system guidance – the Hillsborough Master Gardener Help Desk is available to answer questions on the telephone or in person from homeowners about their landscapes
- Florida-friendly landscaping - learn how you can have Florida-friendly landscape that could save you time, energy and money while protecting our future
- Water use restrictions - year-round conservation measures limiting lawn watering and other outdoor water uses
Single-family residential programs
Compost, micro-irrigation, and rain water harvesting workshops – learn from the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County how to have a healthy and attractive landscape for less
Multi-family and commercial customers programs and resources
- Water Incentives Supporting Efficiency (WISE) – a cost-share reimbursement program for water conservation projects that improve water use efficiency and help protect the region’s water resources. This program is offered through the Southwest Florida Water Management Disrict.
- Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (CHAMP) – free towel and linen reuse program
- Water conservation in restaurants - best management practices to prevent your water bill from draining additional money from your restaurant’s profit
- Florida Water Star - voluntary certification program for new residential and commercial construction and existing home renovation
Contacts
- For more information on high consumption usage, please call the Public Utilities Customer Service Center at (813) 272-6680.
- For more information on using water wisely, call the Water Conservation Team at (813) 663-3295.
Request a presentation
Hillsborough County Public Utilities offers free educational presentations to community groups on topics such as water conservation, irrigation, leak detection, and water waste. Standard presentations can be adjusted depending on your group size, and most presentations are 15-20 minutes in length.
*Presentation requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance, and please note that some presentations may not be fulfilled due to demand and scheduling conflicts.