 winter 2010   let your dishwasher do the work save time water and energy this holiday season by using your dishwasher rather than washing dishes by hand the average dishwasher uses about 10 gallons or less per load many kitchen faucets will use the same amount of water by running for just four minutes  learn  more ways to save water this holiday season and throughout the year find fix those leaks even small leaks can waste hundreds to thousands of gallons of water per month here are two places to check for common household leaks  toilets  annually testing your toilets for leaks by using dye tablets or food coloring is key to quickly detecting and repairing leaky toilets many toilet leaks can be fixed by a doityourself plumber and repair parts are relatively inexpensive to purchase 520  leaky faucets are often caused by faulty washers that don t allow your faucet to shut off completely replacing faulty washers is an easy and inexpensive less than 1 way to save water and money looking for more ways to save water and money  be sure to check out our new brochure which shows some simple and cost effective changes that can reduce your water use while at the same time save you money time and energy  yard garden patio show  be sure to stop by our booth and pick up a copy of our beautiful water efficient plant guide and other resources that will help your garden thrive this summer see you at the show  february 1820 2011  water lean grow green workshop learn about best management practices of waterwise landscaping and network with other landscape professionals free  march 9 2011 as the weather turns colder it s good to know how to turn the water to your house off because there is an increased chance of water pipes freezing or bursting if a pipe bursts in your home knowing the location of the water shutoff valve can protect your property and save water the location of the shutoff valve varies from home to home common locations include the basement the garage or crawl space and even outside your home near the foundation some homes do not have a water shutoff valve if you cannot locate your water shutoff valve or if it appears to be stuck we recommend checking with a plumber find more winterizing tips here   the consortium provides planning and management support for the portland metro region s municipal water supplies contact us   copyright 2010 all rights reserved 