To help combat the effects of the drought in the Atlanta region, the Atlanta Regional Commission has compiled an extensive list of indoor and outdoor water use facts and conservation tips from sources all over the nation.

“The region is experiencing an approximate 44 percent deficit in rainfall so far this year, which impacts our water supply,” said Pat Stevens, ARC's chief of environmental planning. “It is important that citizens of the Atlanta region not only follow the water use restrictions already in place, but also take steps to consciously conserve water on a day-to-day basis.”

Indoor water use facts

Studies show that dripping faucets and leaking toilets account for as much as 14 percent of all indoor water use, equivalent to 10 gallons per person of water lost per day.

Toilets can account for almost 30 percent of all indoor water use, more than any other fixture or appliance.

Older toilets (prior to 1991) use 3.5 to seven gallons of water per flush and as much as 20 gallons per person per day.

Replacing an old toilet with a new model can save the typical household 7,900 to 21,700 gallons of water per year, cutting both water and wastewater bills.

An average of 20 percent of toilets leak.

The third highest use of indoor water is bathing.

Clothes washers can use as much as 30 to 35 gallons of water per cycle and dishwashers as much as 25 gallons per cycle.

A full dishwasher is more water-efficient than washing the same load by hand.

Energy efficient appliances are usually water efficient too.

Tips for indoor water conservation

Periodically verify that your home is leak-free, as many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drip per second from a faucet wastes six gallons of water a day.

Check your toilet for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. A leaky toilet can waste more than 100 gallons of water a day.

Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded, or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.

Install water-saving fixtures, such as ultra low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucets.

If you do have an older toilet, place a cut-off quart or gallon milk or bleach jug in the tank to displace water. Do not use bricks.

Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth, shaving or washing dishes. Running faucets waste three to seven gallons a minute.

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator, so you won't have to run the tap to cool it.

Take shorter showers. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse off.

Never pour water down the drain. Use it another way, such as watering plants.

Outdoor water use facts

Landscaping accounts for 20 to 50 percent of all residential water use and provides the best opportunity for water conservation at home.

As much as 30 percent of water can be lost to evaporation by watering the lawn during midday.

Homes with in-ground sprinkler systems use 35 percent more water outdoors than those that do not.

Tips for outdoor water conservation

Water early in the morning, preferably before 5 a.m.; this prevents loss of water due to evaporation and wind.

Don't overwater your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every seven to 10 days in the summer. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.

One inch of water on your lawn a week is plenty. Place a can in the area you are watering to measure the amount of water your sprinkler delivers. When you do water your lawn, water it long enough for water to seep down to the roots where it is needed. A light sprinkling that sits on the surface will simply evaporate and be wasted.

Never water grass daily (except when establishing new lawns). Daily watering encourages shallow root systems and reduces drought tolerance.

Most well established trees and shrubs don't even need as much water as lawns. Watch for signs — if shrubs turn gray-green and wilt, they need water. Lightly pruning shrubs that become severely wilted will also help conserve moisture and survive the dry period.

Punch holes into a coffee can and bury it halfway into the ground near shrubs and trees. This makes a useful homemade drip irrigation system.

Consider just letting lawns go. Bermuda lawns can go for eight weeks without water. Even fescue lawns will green up again when it rains or can be reseeded in late fall.

Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.

Cut back annual and perennial flowers that wilt. This will reduce plants' demand for water and help keep the root system alive.

Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need to be watered as frequently, and they usually will survive a dry period without any watering. Group plants together based on similar water needs.

Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch slows the evaporation of moisture. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with the plants for water.

Consider using a commercial car wash - most operations recycle their water.

Set out containers to collect rainwater for use (cover them later to deter mosquitoes).

Your air conditioner or de-humidifier collects humidity from the air in your home and pumps it outside as condensation. Find the drain from your air conditioner and collect the water for use on plants, or extend the tubing to irrigate nearby plants.

Place rain gauges in your yard to help determine if there has been enough rain.

Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs — not on the paved areas.

Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hose can pour out 600 gallons of water or more in only a few hours, so don't leave the sprinkler running all day.

Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.

For more information on the drought and water restrictions in each county, visit ARC's web site at www.atlantaregional.com