Water Efficiency

Water is a precious resource that shouldn't be wasted. Here are some time tested tips for saving water in your home and garden.

NID also offers several brochures and flyers that may be helpful to you. For these materials, stop by the NID Business Center or call Customer Service.

Five Basic Ways to Save Water at Home

Check for Leaks. Inspect every faucet in your home. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water per day. Fix it and you will save almost 6,000 gallons a year.
Toilet Tank Test. Put a few drops of food coloring in each toilet tank in your home. Without flushing, watch for a few minutes to see if color shows up in the bowl. It's not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons per day to one of these otherwise invisible leaks.
Shorter Showers. Don't shower too long or fill the tub too full. Five minute showers and five inches deep in the tub is sufficient.
Wash Full Loads. To increase water use efficiency, try to use automatic dish and clothes washing machines only with full loads.
In the Garden. This is where you can really save water. Irrigate early or late, not in the midday heat. See that water goes where it should, not on sidewalks or driveways. Use a spade to see that water is getting down deep. A good soaking encourages good root systems. Check with local lawn and garden experts for more good ideas.

Household Leak Test is Easy as 1-2-3

So, you're a do-it-yourselfer? Here’s an easy way to test for leaks in your home plumbing system.

First, turn off all water inside and outside of your home. Take a pencil and paper and go to your water meter.
Next, write down the numbers of your current meter reading.
Do not use any water for one hour, then return to your meter and take a second reading. If the meter reading has changed, you have a leak.

If you have a leak, inspect your home system or call a plumber to find and repair the problem. Remember, it is always important to conserve water. Repairing even a small leak can save valuable water supplies and lead to savings on your water bill.

Irrigation Water: Tips for Efficient Use

Do you use irrigation water from the NID canal system? There's a good chance that you can reduce your water use and still get good or better crop yields.

Here are a few tips:

Know your soil. Check moisture with a spade, probe or moisture meter.
Measure your water to determine how much is applied.
Consider alternate row irrigation for crops planted in furrows.
Plan short runs. Match stream size and velocity to soil intake rate and capacity.
Catch and reuse tail water.
Under irrigate the lower end of field to stretch your water.
Keep ditches and service boxes free from weeds, sediment and debris. This can affect the water delivery rate.
Make sure gates, structures and inlets are operational.
Make sure sprinkler nozzles aren't worn or leaky.
Maintain water pumps at peak efficiency to save energy.
When water is short, consider eliminating that last irrigation.

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