Conserve water; it's more precious than you might think.

New York City officials issued a drought warning on January 28th, 2002 and asked New Yorkers to cut back on water usage. (A New Jersey statewide warning is next.) Concerns about drinking water levels at reservoirs that supply New York City were identified as the reason for the warning. Residents of the City were asked to conserve water by taking shorter showers, smaller baths, and turning off the water while brushing their teeth. While these are noble steps toward water conservation, these practices, by now, should be commonplace. Many of us think that tap water is an unlimited resource, but in reality only 1% of the Earth's total water is drinkable.

Education campaigns for the past 15 to 20 years have stressed the importance of water conservation. By now, we should know how important it is to conserve water, especially in metropolitan areas like New York. Water is a limited resource, and as populations grow, we must learn to live with less. Let's not wait for the next warning or emergency before we start to conserve.

All of us can do more to conserve this rare resource. In addition to the many conservation measures identified over the years, we should ask ourselves as we turn on the tap, "Is there more I can do to conserve?" Following are a few examples of water conservation practices that everyone can follow.

• Place aerators on faucets and install low-volume toilets or displacement blocks in toilet tanks.
• Install an instant water heater on the kitchen sink faucet so water doesn't have to run while it heats up. This will also reduce heating costs for our households.
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full. This method alone could save 1000 gallons a month.
• When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save up to 80 gallons of water every time.
• Only water your lawn and garden when needed and plant drought tolerant plants and shrubs.
• Collect and use rainwater for watering your garden.
• Direct downspouts or gutters toward shrubs or trees to promote infiltration.
• Choose water-efficient drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers.
• Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant and save up to 550 gallons each year.