Water Conservation Program

Help Us Conserve Water

We are lucky in the City of Sutherlin  to have a high quality water supply. But water is nonetheless a finite resource—one that we can all work together to conserve. Here are some ideas and resources to help you conserve water:                        

Indoor Water Conservation
Click here to read about identifying and fixing indoor leaks.  

Quick Tips for Saving Water Indoors:

• Install free water-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators offered by the City.
• Take a six-minute shower challenge. A six-minute shower with a standard showerhead uses about 13 gallons of water. Can you shower in 6 minutes? How about 5? Give it a try and see how fast you can be! The shorter the shower, the more water you'll save.
• If you have an older toilet, consider replacing it with a water-efficient model. Or try putting a water displacement device in the tank of your current toilet to reduce water use per flush.
• Check for leaks. A leaky faucet can waste more than 2,000 gallons of water in a year—and it’s usually relatively simple and cheap to fix. Ask for help at the hardware store or find a how-to video for guidance on how to get started.
• Click Here for a list of additional Simple Water Saving Tips

Outdoor Water Conservation
Click here to see the helpful informational newsletter for Outdoor Water Conservation!
Preparing for Summer - Click Here for a helpful list of Water Conversation tips!

   
                         
Quick Tips for Saving Water Outdoors:

• Irrigate your lawn and plants in the early morning. If you wait until later in the day when it’s warmer and less humid, the water will evaporate faster and less of it will reach the plants’ roots.
• Inspect your irrigation system for leaks, broken lines, or blockage.
• Add a spray nozzle to your hose to easily shut off the water when washing a car, truck, or boat.
• Consider incorporating water-efficient plants into your lawn and garden to reduce the amount of water necessary to maintain your landscape throughout the summer.
• Reduce water use and maintenance efforts by allowing grass to brown in the summer or xeriscaping the area around your house. Xeriscaping is landscaping using plants that thrive with less water.

Additional Resources

• Oregon Water Resources Department Water Conservation Fact Sheets 
  • Saving Water Inside the Home 
  • Saving Water Outside the Home
  • Saving Water Energy and Fish
• OSU Extension Service: Gardening Lawn and Landscape
• Regional Water Providers Consortium: Water Conservation, How To Videos And Tips

City of Sutherlin Water Conservation Efforts

The Public Works Department works diligently to reduce water loss throughout the system before it reaches your home. Some of these efforts include:

• Conducting monthly and annual water audits
• Installing automated meter reading to improve leak detection
• Monitoring the water system for abnormalities that could indicate leaks

We completed a Water Management and Conservation Plan in 2018, which outlines the City’s water conservation strategies and how we plan to maintain and improve our water system in the future.