During Shemini Atzeret, we say a special prayer for rain to help us begin a bountiful harvest season. However here in our desert climate, we don’t receive nearly enough rain, and water conservation is becoming a large issue in our state along with the rest of the world. These few tips are easy ways that you can honor the holiday of Shemini Atzeret and begin thinking about ways to conserve water even in the desert.

Skip the grass and plant a desert garden – 
Instead of planting grass that needs to be watered, consider beautifying your yard with some desert plants. Cactus of course are the most obvious choice, but there are quite a few other beautiful native desert plants that don’t require much water to survive like Arizona Rosewood or Brittlebush which both produce colorful flowers that attract birds and bees. Not only do these low-water plants survive in our summer heat, but they are also very low maintenance.

Keep your pool covered – 
Here in Phoenix, most homes have a pool to help us cool off during the hot summer months. However, the average pool takes over 20,000 gallons of water per month to stay filled. By simply covering your pool when you aren’t using it, you can help save hundreds of gallons from evaporating.

Put in a shower timer or low-flow shower head – 
Cutting back on the time spent in the shower can drastically help both the environment and your wallet. In fact, the EPA estimates that 17% of indoor water use (roughly 40 gallons per day) for the average family comes from showers alone. By installing a shower timer to keep your showers a bit quicker or a low-flow shower head to help slow down the rate of water being used can help reduce these numbers dramatically. Some states have begun to require residents to switch to these options already, and companies are making some great water-efficient options.

Recycle water in your home – 
Many people don’t pay attention to how much water they are using on a daily basis. From dishwashers to laundry machines or even watering plants, recycling water is a great way to help save the precious resource. Need some simple ways to get started? Try using a plastic tub to wash kitchen utensils instead of running a dishwasher, and then reusing this water to to water houseplants or even refill toilets. Another simple solution would be to install a recycling system to help save around 35% of the water in your home’s plumbing system.

Check for leaks – 
If you notice a large increase in your water bill, it may be a sign that you have a leak somewhere either inside or outside your home. You will probably be able to tell if you have a major leak inside your house, but pipes outside or automatic watering systems may be harder to track. Hire a professional to help you track down any leaks and help you fix them to help conserve water and save you some money.

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