Start a Water Conservation Program

• Increase employee awareness of water conservation.
• Install signs encouraging water conservation in employee and customer restrooms.
• When cleaning with water is necessary, use budgeted amounts.
• Read water meter weekly to monitor success of water conservation efforts.
• Assign an employee to monitor water use and waste.
• Seek employee suggestions on water conservation; locate suggestion boxes in prominent areas.
• Determine the quantity and purpose of water being used.
• Determine other methods of water conservation.

Survey the Facility

• Identify water source points.
• Develop a schematic of all water entry points (know where your faucets, time clock, solenoids, booster pumps, sprinklers and bubblers are located).
• Identify capacity of each water-carrying unit and frequency of use. Determine specific use for each entry source.

Interior Areas

• Discontinue continuous flow.
• Use ponded water where available.
• Adjust flows to reduce discharge of water.
• Install water-waving devices to decrease water consumption -
• Restrooms (toilet dams and flappers), faucets (aerators), cooling systems.
  Use recycling systems for chillers and cooling towers.
• Consider installing energy- and water-efficient air conditioning equipment.
• Conservation suggestions for clubhouse areas are contained in the "Restaurants" and "Hotels and Motels" checklists.

Maintenance Procedures

• Sweep materials from floor instead of washing down whenever possible.
• Instruct clean-up crews to use less water where appropriate.
• Check water supply system for leaks.
• Repair dripping faucets and continuously-running or leaking toilets.

Design and Maintenance Procedures for Turf and Landscape Areas

• Contact your local water supplier about possible landscape water auditor classes for your golf course managers.
• Hire a golf course and/or landscape architect with water conservation and xeriscape experience.
• Use turf only where actually necessary; such as picnic areas/outside lunch areas and golf course target areas (greens, tees, landing areas).
• Limit or exclude turf from roughs.
• Use only low-water use plant material in non-turf areas.
• Use automatic irrigation systems monitored by moisture probes (i.e., tensiometers).
• Design dual watering system with sprinklers for turf and low-volume irrigation for plants, trees, and shrubs.
• Operate sprinkler system before sunrise and after sunset. Amount of irrigation can be determined by the evapotranspiration rate.
• Use properly-treated waste water for irrigation where available.

Exterior Areas

• Discontinue using water to clean sidewalks, tennis courts, pool decks, driveways, and parking lots.
• Stop irrigation water from running onto streets and alleys.

For More Information

For more information contact the Water Supply Program at 410-537-3702 or water.supply@maryland.gov​