Water Conservation and Efficiency

There are many ways to save water and be more efficient. These tips provide a multitude of ways including the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, hot water heaters, cleaning, leaks, lawns and gardens, irrigation, pools and more.

Learn how to be more efficient today

Do you know when you may water your lawn? ALL City of Raleigh water customers are currently under Permanent Conservation Measures. Many of these restrictions apply to irrigation usage, and are in effect everyday.

Learn about Permanent Conservation Measures

Did you know that toilets can use up to 30 percent of indoor domestic water usage? Older toilets can use up to seven gallons in just one flush! How much is your toilet costing you? WaterSense labeled toilets could save you up to $245 a year in water and sewer fees. These toilets may also drop you down a tier and reduce your bill further.

Learn more about the program

Approximately 17 percent of indoor water usage can come from showering. Most showerheads use 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) - using 25 gallons for a 10-minute shower! The City is now offering FREE 1.5 gpm High Efficiency showerheads when you bring in an old showerhead.

The City is now offering FREE kits to all water and/or sewer customers. Kits include: two High Efficiency bathroom aerators, which uses only 0.5 gpm; one multifunction kitchen aerator, which uses 1.6 gpm; and one package of two toilet leak detection tablets.

Want to learn about the importance of water and our resources, how to conserve, and what programs the City offers? Public Utilities offers a variety of presentations and materials.

Schedule a presentation today

Is your water bill higher than normal? Most homes and businesses have leaks that go undetected. Learn how to conduct a water efficiency checkup with the City's training manual and see how your efficiency stacks up.

Download the Water Efficiency Checkup manual (.pdf)

See WaterWise Gardening in action at the City's first WaterWise Demonstration site. This site was created by the combined efforts of Public Utilities, Parks and Recreation, several volunteers and the City's VISTA members, and is home to over 17 different plant species.

Learn more about the Waterwise Garden

Learn about the City Water Quality Cost-Share Program designed to help home owners harvest their rainwater while minimizing installation costs. New systems can include a variety of methods designed to improve water quality in Raleigh's streams and lakes.

See the Rainwater Program details

Reuse water, sometimes called reclaimed water or recycled water, has been highly treated and can be re-used instead of being discharged to a waterway. Although not suitable for human consumption, there are many viable uses for reuse water.

Find out about Raleigh's Reuse Water System

Planning to install a new irrigation system? City Ordinance now requires all new potable water, in-ground irrigation systems to have a smart controller with two weather-based sensors, one of which must be a rain sensor.

Download and review the City's Irrigation Installation Ordinances (.pdf)