California’s ongoing drought and resulting water restrictions are at the forefront of many minds, as property owners strive to reduce their water usage.

Of course, reducing water usage isn’t only legally required and good for the environment. It’s also great for any property owner’s bottom line (no matter what state their property is in!).

The big question is: how can you reduce the water usage—especially if you have already made some water conservation efforts? Here are a few tips to help you conserve water around the house.

For Home-Owners

• Turn off the water when you don’t really need it: while you’re lathering up in the shower, for instance, or while you’re scrubbing your car. Turn the water on again when you need to rinse.
• Cover your pool. According to National Geographic, the average pool requires about 22,000 gallons of water to fill—and hundreds of gallons can be lost due to evaporation each month.
• Consider whether it’s time to replace your major appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, ice-making refrigerator). It may be cost-effective—and water-smart—to replace them with new, more efficient machines. You may also be eligible for rebates when purchasing new, efficient appliances.
• Re-use your water: water you’re dumping from the fish tank, water used to cook vegetables, water used in a double boiler—all can be re-used as irrigation for your plants. (If re-using hot water, be sure it has cooled before using it to irrigate.)
• Check for leaks. Observe your sink and outdoor faucets. Put a little food coloring in the toilet tank; if it appears in the bowl without anyone having flushed the toilet, there’s a leak. Read your water meter after a two-hour period of no water usage; if the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
• If you find a leak, fix it!
• Re-imagine your landscaping. Instead of a lawn that requires ample watering to remain green, consider drought-tolerant flowers and other plants, a succulent garden, or even a rock garden. Or replace part of your lawn with hardscaping where you can set up a seating area. Be sure to place a layer of mulch around your plants to reduce evaporation of irrigation water.
• Do an irrigation overhaul on your outdoor landscaping: replace old sprinklers with new, efficient sprinklers (again, you may be eligible for rebates) and install a timer system with a sensor that can automatically reduce water usage on rainy and overcast days.

For Home-Owners and Commercial Property Owners

• Check for leaks. Observe your sink and outdoor faucets. Put a little food coloring in the toilet tank; if it appears in the bowl without anyone having flushed the toilet, there’s a leak. Read your water meter after a two-hour period of no water usage; if the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
• If you find a leak, fix it!
• Re-imagine your landscaping. Instead of a lawn that requires ample watering to remain green, consider drought-tolerant flowers and other plants, a succulent garden, or even a rock garden. Or replace part of your lawn with hardscaping where you can set up a seating area. Be sure to place a layer of mulch around your plants to reduce evaporation of irrigation water.
• Do an irrigation overhaul on your outdoor landscaping: replace old sprinklers with new, efficient sprinklers (again, you may be eligible for rebates) and install a timer system with a sensor that can automatically reduce water usage on rainy and overcast days.

For more than 25 years, Beall Financial and Insurance Services, Inc., has been helping corporations and individuals protect their most important assets. The agency’s client base covers a spectrum of businesses that require specialized insurance packages and knowledge. With offices in California and Indiana, Beall Financial and Insurance Services serves clients nationwide.