ANDERSON, SC - There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you. The City of Anderson and Electric City Utilities offers these water-saving tips. Check back every week for more ways to conserve water and possibly save money. For additional information or for a complete list of water conservation tips contact the City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities Water Operations Department at (864) 231-5230.

• Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption each time you water.
• Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden with a hose. Use this as a reminder for when to shut off your sprinkler.
• Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
• Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons per plant each year.
• Use a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily, don't water. Proper lawn watering can save thousands of gallons of water annually.
• Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Call the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional to see how much rain is needed to skip an irrigation cycle.