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You may as well collect! The upcoming dry summer months are probably the last thing on your mind during heavy late winter and spring rains. At this time of year, it may seem like it will never dry out, but it’s important to remember that a hot summer is just around the corner. So why not collect that [...]

The Great Lakes account for nine-tenths of North America’s surface freshwater, but less than one percent of their water is renewed each year by snow and rain. It would take 100 years for nature to replace even one gallon of water lost from the lakes. This slow recharge rate means we must take care to [...]

We don’t often associate the desert with trout habitat, but the gila (HEEL-a) trout, or “trout of the desert,” is a unique species that lives in the arid climate of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.  Unfortunately, the gila trout has suffered severe population declines over the past 100 years and currently occupy only a fraction [...]

This Halloween, take a minute to teach your little G.I. Joes and Cinderellas a thing or two about conserving water when it’s time to brush their teeth after all those treats.
Viewer Tip: Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth saves eight gallons per day, adding up to enough water in a year to take 170 [...]

Most people don’t realize the considerable amount of energy it takes to deliver, treat and heat the water they use. In fact, American public water supply and treatment facilities consume about 56 billion kilowatt-hours per year—enough electricity to power more than five million homes for an entire year. In California, water-related energy use accounts for [...]

If the water we use is replenished by precipitation, why do we need to save it? The short answer is that while water can be purified and reused over and over thanks to the natural water cycle and wastewater treatment technology, it may not be available everywhere—or every time—it’s needed. When we all use water [...]

Did you know that at least 30 percent of the water you use at home is outdoors? In drier parts of the country, homeowners use as much as 70 percent of their water outdoors.
Viewer Tip: This autumn, look for ways to be more water-efficient and fall into good water habits.

Adjust your watering schedule each month [...]

Fall is the best time to see salmon returning to spawn in Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula rivers.  Plenty of water is needed for salmon to swim upstream and successfully reproduce.  After salmon lay their eggs in the gravel stream beds, they die. The eggs are left on their own and rely on a flow [...]

Nationwide, Americans use more than seven billion gallons of water per day to water lawns and gardens.  That’s enough water to fill more than 10,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools!  Look for drought-tolerant plants to help reduce your outdoor water use.
Water Guzzlers: Plants with dark, glossy, large leaves tend to require more water because more leaf surface [...]

Did you know that you can have a big impact on water and energy use by upgrading bathroom fixtures in your home?

Faucets: Installing WaterSense labeled faucets or faucet aerators in your bathrooms could reduce your household’s annual water use by more than 500 gallons and save 70 kilowatt-hours of electricity used for heating the water [...]

Everyone knows that hot, dry weather can be a killer in the garden.  Conserving water isn’t just for desert gardens or times of drought, though – it’s something you can do in any part of the country at any time of the year.
Viewer Tip: The National Wildlife Federation offers these tips to conserve water in [...]

Did you know that more water is used in July in most states than any other month? The U.S. EPA estimates that up to 50 percent of water used for outdoor irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind or overwatering.  Some homes can lose up to 70 gallons per day!
Viewer Tip: July is Smart Irrigation [...]

In the Southwest, evaporative cooling systems are common. Evaporative coolers do not work well in areas with high humidity, but they are great for dry, hot climates. They are energy efficient, only using between ten and 33 percent of the amount of electricity a conventional air conditioner uses.  These coolers do not use refrigerants known [...]

In most of North America, over 50 percent of residential water used is applied to landscapes and lawns. But, think of all the woodland flowers you saw thriving last summer during the drought – no one was watering them! If you are planting flowers, shrubs or trees this year, try choosing native plants that are [...]

More than half of the Western U.S. is experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions right now. Conserving water at home can help! If you want to save water but don’t have the budget for a bathroom makeover or landscaping redesign, follow these steps to stop pouring money down the drain.

Trash your tissues. Don’t flush them—one less [...]

About 67 percent of Texas is experiencing abnormally dry or drought conditions right now. Conserving water at home can help! If you want to save water but don’t have the budget for a bathroom makeover or landscaping redesign, follow these steps to stop pouring money down the drain.

Trash your tissues. Don’t flush them—one less flush [...]

The Great Lakes are located in a unique region with a wide variety of habitats. Before settlers arrived about 400 years ago, the area consisted of tall grass prairies, oak savannas, woodlands and wetlands.  Native Great Lakes plants are those plants that thrive in the region’s natural conditions and weather.  By planting native species of [...]

How many times have you seen your neighbor’s—or, ahem, your own—sprinklers operating when it’s raining outside? Often this is a case of convenience gone awry, when irrigation systems set to run on an automatic schedule do not take into account current weather conditions. But there is a simple and relatively inexpensive solution. A rain sensor, [...]

As much as 50 percent of water applied to landscaping is lost due to wind, evaporation, improper system design, installation, or maintenance. Much of this waste can be avoided with a more thoughtful approach to gardening and watering.
Viewer Tip: Give these tips a try to grow a healthy garden and save water at the same [...]

Earth Gauge Video is available for this tip!
March 16-20 is Fix a Leak Week! Leaks account for large amounts of water wasted in U.S. homes—on average, more than 10,000 gallons per home per year, enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.
Viewer Tip: Here are some tips from EPA’s WaterSense program to identify leaks.

Check your water [...]