01 Jun 2025 10 smart ways to conserve water this summer

Posted at 7:10 PMh in Food & Home Entertaining by

By Beth Jimmerson

As temperatures climb and lawns turn golden under the summer sun, our water use typically skyrockets. Whether it’s running sprinklers longer, filling up pools or taking more frequent showers, it all adds up. But while summer is a time for fun and sun, it’s also a season where water conservation becomes more critical than ever.

Water may seem abundant, but it’s a finite resource — especially in areas prone to drought or where demand outpaces supply. As Conway continues to grow, Conway Corp is planning. Conserving water reduces the strain on local water systems, helps maintain healthy ecosystems and saves you money on your utility bills. It also ensures there’s enough water for essential services like firefighting, hospitals and agriculture.

So how can you help? Here are 10 practical and effective ways to conserve water during the summer months:

Water Your Lawn Early or Late

Avoid watering during the heat of the day (usually between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) when more than 30 percent of the water can evaporate. Early morning or late evening watering ensures more moisture reaches your plant roots. You can also set your lawn mower blades one notch higher because taller grass is more drought-tolerant, which means less water evaporation.

Don’t Overwater Your Lawn

To see if your lawn needs water, walk on the grass. If it springs back, no need to water. If it leaves footprints, go ahead and set up the sprinklers.

As a general rule, lawns only need 1 inch of water every five to seven days. Try placing a small empty tuna can near your sprinkler system to help you determine when to turn off the sprinkler. When the can is full, you have watered approximately 1 inch.

Cover Pools When Not in Use

Uncovered backyard pools lose hundreds of gallons of water each month from evaporation. Using a pool cover and keeping it covered when not in use will reduce evaporation of water and chemicals by nearly 70 percent. Check your pool for leaks often and always consult a professional with pool maintenance to reduce your risk of structural failure, like a cracked shell that would waste thousands of gallons of water. 

Upgrade Your Sprinklers

Water-efficient rotating stream spray nozzles reduce misting, run off and evaporation compared to standard fan-spray nozzles. Replacing eight sprinkler heads in your yard with high-efficiency nozzles will save approximately 128 gallons every time you water your lawn. You can shorten your sprinkler watering time by just two minutes and save an additional 80 gallons each watering day. 

Capture Rainwater

Use a rain barrel to collect and store rainwater from your roof for use in your garden. It’s free, natural irrigation — and better for your plants, too. Place rain barrels or buckets beneath your gutters or downspouts. For every 1,000 square feet of roof surface, you will collect 420 gallons of water during every inch of rainfall. You can use the rainwater for outdoor plants or to wash your car. Channel storm water across lawns and into garden beds away from your house. 

Turn Off the Faucet

The easiest way to conserve water is turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth or shaving. It sounds silly, but simply turning off the water will save 3 gallons every time you brush your teeth – that’s more than 2,000 gallons a year per individual! 

Running dishwashers and washing machines when they are full rather than every day can save more than 1,000 gallons of water each month. 

Shorten Your Showers

Consider a short shower over a bath. A bath can use up to 70 gallons of water while a shower uses between 10 and 20 gallons. Keep your shower to less than five minutes, and you’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month. Cutting showers by just two minutes can save up to 1,500 gallons of water per person each year. Consider installing low-flow showerheads for extra savings.

Run Full Loads

Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when full. You’ll save both water and energy — making it a win for your wallet and the planet. It may seem counterintuitive but running the dishwasher rather than hand washing can also help you save water. You can save 15 gallons by running a full dishwasher rather than hand washing the same number of dishes. Save 21 gallons each time you wash one full load of laundry rather than two half loads.

Fix Leaks Promptly

A dripping faucet or a leaking hose can waste hundreds of gallons of water over the course of a season. In fact, a faucet dripping just once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per day – that’s more than 70,000 gallons per year or enough to fill a swimming pool! In the United States alone, household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water. Regularly inspect your faucets, pipes and irrigation systems and repair leaks quickly.

Learn More About the Conway Corp Energy Smart Program

Your home is where you hang out, play, create memories and sometimes even work – so it’s important to keep it running smoothly. The Conway Corp Energy Smart program is here to help with energy- and water-saving tips, free home energy audits and zero percent interest loans for energy- and water-efficiency home improvements. Schedule your free audit with a Conway Corp professional or take advantage of zero percent interest loans for certain home improvements.

Conway Corp customers don’t have to worry about water. We pour ourselves into serving Conway, and our investment in advanced facilities, innovative water treatments and a local water source means safe, reliable water for our customers at some of the lowest rates in the nation.

Still, every drop counts, and conserving water doesn’t require big sacrifices — just smarter choices. When communities work together to save water, the benefits ripple out: more reliable supply, lower infrastructure costs and a healthier environment for all. Small actions can have a big impact, and we’re here to help. To learn more about the Conway Corp Energy Smart program, visit ConwayCorp.com/EnergySmart.

Beth Jimmerson
Latest posts by Beth Jimmerson (see all)