Cape Cod water use is over 23 million gallons a day during the off season and over 45 million gallons a day during the summer. Cape Cod Groundwater Guardians recognize that conserving water is the right thing to do to keep energy costs down and limit the need to drill new water supply wells. There are lots of links on these pages to help you learn some new ways to conserve water and why its important.

Project TOUR offers water conservation materials free of charge to Cape Cod businesses. Check out this link to learn more and order materials.

WATER RECYCLE is an interactive page that is full of information about Cape Cods unique water resources and ways to protect them. The concept that water is USED AND REUSED is demonstrated in this pictoral exploration of Cape Cods hydrologic systems and habitats.

For information about local RAINFALL and DROUGHT conditions: MA WATER RESOURCE CONDITIONS SITE.

WATER CONSERVATION STARTS AT HOME
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

WATER USE	Average Amt	Try this Conservation Tip
SHOWERING	20-40 gallons (5 gal/min)	Take a shorter shower. Save 5 gallons/minute of shower. Taking a 5 minute or less shower will save 75 gallons of water/week/person. Replace shower heads with low flow models
TOILET FLUSHING	6 Gallons	Replace older toilets with 1.6 gal/flush models. Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket. Fix toilet leaks. Often leaks are slow and unnoticeable. Check for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait for at least 2 hours and see if the colored water appears in the bowl.
TEETH BRUSHING	2 gallons (tap running)	Turn water off when brushing. This can save 35 gallons of water/week/person.
SHAVING	3-5 gallons (tap running)	Turn water off when shaving. Install a flip aerator to make this easy
DISHWASHING	20 gallons (tap running)	Wash and rinse in sink or pan.
AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER	15 gallons (full cycle)	Run only full loads. This can save 30 gallons of water/week. Replace older appliances with low water use models.
CLOTHES WASHER	36-60 gallons (full cycle)	Replace older appliances with new low water use, energy efficient models. Front loading machines can use as little as 15 gal/load and can also save on hot water heating and drying time.
OUTDOOR WATERING	5-10 gal/minute	Water in early morning or evening when evaporation is lowest. Install drip irrigation systems which use 30-50% less water. Mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and discourage weeds. Use drought tolerant plants in your landscaping. Minimize grass areas. Use a rain gauge to determine how much water your yard has received. One inch of water/week is sufficient.