Tips

In the bathroom

Take a shower instead of a bath. A five minute shower uses about five gallons of water while a bath uses about fifteen.
To really reduce water use, take a "sailor's shower": turn off the water while soaping and shampooing.
When washing or shaving, don't run the water continuously. Partially fill the sink with water and use that. Use short bursts of water to clean razors. That saves about 60% of the water usually used.
Don't run the tap while brushing your teeth, only run the water to rinse and clean your brush. This saves about 80% of the water.
Be sure to turn off the water completely so that water doesn't drip needlessly.

If lead in your home's plumbing is a concern, use only water from cold water faucets for drinking or cooking. Hot water often carries higher levels of lead. Before using water for drinking or cooking, flush your cold water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as it gets (usually between five seconds and two minutes).
When washing dishes, don't run the water continuously. Partially fill the sink with enough water to cover the dirty dishes, and rinse with the spray attachment on your faucet.
Only run the dishwasher if you have a full load of dishes.
Keep a pitcher of ice water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until it gets cold (unless lead is a concern).

Only wash your car when necessary (don't waste water). Wash your car at a car wash facility, or park your car on the grass when washing it. The grass will filter the pollutants.
Don't dispose of used motor oil in the trash, nor by pouring it down a toilet or drain. Take your used motor oil to a mechanic for disposal, or have a mechanic change your oil for you.
Check your car for fluid leaks from time to time, and fix any that you find.

Properly dispose of hazardous wastes. Never dump items such as used motor oil, fuel products, antifreeze, cleaners, paints and pesticides on the ground or down the drain. For a listing of Household Hazardous Waste collection sites and dates, contact the Calhoun County Environmental Health Department at (269) 969-6341.
Sweep up and properly dispose of construction debris, such as concrete and mortar.
If you have a septic system, have it checked every other year to insure it is working properly.
Check fuel storage tanks (both above- and below-ground) for leaks. Leaking fuel storage tanks are a major source of contamination.
Drain gutters and downspouts onto vegetated or gravel-filled seepage areas, not directly onto paved surfaces. Splash blocks also help reduce erosion.
Properly close any abandoned wells on your property. They can act as conduits for contaminants, allowing them to quickly travel to the groundwater.
When using latex paints, clean your paintbrushes in a sink, not outdoors. Sink water drains to a septic tank or sewage treatment plant.
Latex paints can be safely disposed of in the trash if first dried out. Oil-based paints can be disposed of at any one of Calhoun County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection days. Contact Calhoun County Recycling or call (269) 969-6341.
Clean up after pets. Dog manure is a pollutant.

Never allow leaves, grass clippings, yard waste, trash or dirt to accumulate in the street, driveway or sidewalk. Sweep, don't hose down, such areas. This prevents debris from washing down into storm drains and polluting lakes and streams. Compost leaves.
Mow grass to a height of 2.5 - 3 inches to maximize root growth.
Don't remove more than one-third of the total leaf surface when you mow.
All lawn chemicals should be stored in a safe, dry place away from children and pets.
Use fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides sparingly and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Try xeriscape landscaping. Xeriscape uses native plants well-suited to our climate and pests and reduces the need for irrigation and chemical applications. Less irrigation results in less runoff.
Plant buffer strips of thick vegetation along waterways to slow runoff and soak up pollutants. Plant trees, shrubs and ground cover. They absorb fourteen times more rainwater than a grass lawn and do not require fertilizer.

Plant a buffer strip of native or hardy pest-resistant plants between the water and the yard. This protects against erosion and filters out contaminants.
Never burn yard waste along the shoreline — ashes contain phosphorus.
Use landscape plants that minimize the need for pesticides and fertilizers, and that are well-adapted to water frontage.
Consider reducing the amount of turf that needs to be maintained.
Don't feed wildlife along the shore, as it increases the amount of animal waste in the water.

Wait until the lawn is actively growing before applying fertilizer. Fertilizer applied when the grass is not growing wastes your money and time, and can contaminate your water. If you only want to fertilize once a year, the best time is late summer or early fall.
Slow-release or timed-release fertilizers (manure, sulfur-coated pellets or IBDU) may seem more expensive, but are actually more efficient — more fertilizer goes to the plants instead of being washed away by rain.
Consider using a fertilizer with low or no phosphorus to help protect your water quality.
Don't guess, know the amount of fertilizer your lawn needs by calculating the size of your lawn and reading the directions on the fertilizer bag before applying the product. For example, usually no more than one pound of nitrogen should be applied per 1,000 square feet of lawn area. Better yet, test your soil to find out how much fertilizer it needs. Applying more fertilizer than needed wastes your time and money and can pollute groundwater.
Don't fertilize if there is chance that it might rain.
Sweep excess fertilizer off of paved surfaces back onto the lawn. If fertilizer is left on paved surfaces, rain can wash it into storm drains and into lakes and streams.
For free technical assistance and fertilizing advice, call your local Groundwater Stewardship Program or Michigan State University representative.

And always, one thing that each of us can do to help protect our waters is to tell our friends and neighbors about how to protect our waters!