<h2>[[{"fid":"280","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"style":"height: 300px; width: 450px;","alt":"Saving water is kid business too!","class":"adaptive-image media-element file-default"}}]]</h2><h2><span>Summer is a great time for kids of all ages to learn more about their water!</span></h2><p>For many families, summer means fun, sun, and vacations.&nbsp; And, from splashing in pools to watering gardens and washing cars, summer also means more water use than any other time of year.<br /><br />As a result, summer is a great time to teach kids about how and why to use water wisely. Here are five ideas to get you started:</p><ol><li><strong>Start a discussion with your kids about your water and where it comes from.</strong> Find out general about your water supply <a href="/our-regions-water">here</a> and <a href="/content/amazing-water-map">here</a>. Then contact your <a href="/consortium-members">water provider</a> to see if they have additional resources or opportunities to learn more about your specific water supply.</li><li><strong>Explore how each member of your family can do their part to use water wisely.</strong> Take a moment to walk through your family&rsquo;s daily activities - brushing teeth, washing up, flushing toilets, washing clothes, watering gardens, etc - and identify ways each of you can conserve water. Get started by checking out our <a href="/indoor-water-conservation-tips">indoor</a> and <a href="/outdoor-water-conservation-tips">outdoor</a> tip pages.</li><li><strong>The average U.S. family uses 100 gallons of water per person per day &ndash; about enough to fill a small kiddie pool.</strong> Next time you have a swim party, use it as an opportunity to help your kids understand how much water they use each day.&nbsp; Use the Alliance for Water Efficency&#39;s Consortium&rsquo;s <a href="http://www.home-water-works.org/calculator">Water Calculator</a> to tally up your results.</li><li><strong>Enlist your kid&rsquo;s to help make sure that the water you use in the garden actually stays in the garden, and not on the sidewalk or street.</strong> Water consumption in the Portland metro area is at its highest - doubling or even tripling - during the summer months mainly due to <a href="/watering-landscapes-efficently">outdoor watering</a>. That&rsquo;s one reason why watering&nbsp; &mdash; whether it&rsquo;s a single sprinkler attached to a hose or a sophisticated underground system &mdash; is a key component to your water conservation efforts.</li><li><strong>If you are vacationing elsewhere this summer, take a few minutes to learn about the water supply of the area you are visiting and compare it to your own.</strong> Water resources and issues can vary widely from region to region.</li></ol><p style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px">[[{"fid":"192","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"style":"float:left;margin:0 5px 5px 0;","alt":"Play our interactive kid&#039;s games","class":"adaptive-image media-element file-default"}}]]<span>Find out more water saving tips while taking a shot at playing our <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001XIgngVJksmFNUpmsxdSbKWfcPg-zBToTxrjcAinGhBS2nYg873c6wX8y6gCt40JW86zOnZUEJ8q4BTprmIiOKH1CLcyQl7WUPNCF9NF97fhfAaU1iOTA3gr_EZ9tWUZOipZj9L_JqzBnmDLAgKCX2g==" shape="rect" style="color: rgb(0,125,161); text-decoration: underline" target="_blank">Washing Machine Basketball</a> game.</span></p>