It’s July in Missouri and those long hot ‘lazy hazy crazy’ days of summer are back. My grandmother would say, “July gets so hot around here, the birds have to use an oven mitt when they pull the worms out of the ground!”  As the sun shines and the temperature goes up, we are drawn to refreshing water for a cool retreat from the heat.

Across Missouri, this is one reason water usage increases during the summer.  During other seasons, a typical family of four in the United States uses approximately 300 gallons(1) of water each day for cleaning, bathing, drinking, toilet use, and washing machine and dishwasher use.  During the summer, that can jump to 1000 to even 3000 gallons per day according to the Environmental Protection Agency(3).  This level of water usage not only impacts us financially with the increased cost of our water bill, but has many negative impacts to the environment.

Luckily, there are a variety of ways to beat the heat and still keep water conservation in mind. Here are some family friendly tips to save water and still have great summer fun!

Water work equals water play

Some of the most memorable summer moments are playing with hoses and sprinklers. These water activities use up more water than you might think. Fortunately, however, water play doesn’t have to stop altogether.  Many of us water our grass and plants.  So, why not have fun doing both? Kids can have fun running and jumping through the water while you take care of your lawn and garden. While this activity is fun for all, sprinklers use up a large amount of water so be sure to use it for a limited time; around 15 minutes. 

If you are watering your lawn without water play, consider doing so when temperatures are cooler.  When you run your sprinkler during the day, much of that water evaporates away. Less water will evaporate and more will get absorbed into the ground during the cooler morning and evening summer hours (2). You might even be able to water less often by changing watering times.

Your child can also enjoy water play by helping to wash your vehicle.  Purchasing a high-efficiency nozzle for your hose controls the amount of water and pressure to help conserve water usage during these activities.

Gardening with kids

It’s never too early to teach your kids about growing plants. Gardening is an activity that provides valuable lessons in water conservation. Using locally grown plants is the best. If certain species are known to grow native, it means they’re used to the climate and can grow on their own without a lot of watering.  Gardening is also a great opportunity to talk to your kids about the importance of plants.

Pool time!

If you have a pool, even a small wading pool, in your backyard, you don’t have to go far to cool off.  Towards the end of summer though, having your own pool can get a bit repetitive when it comes to summer play.  So, make up your own games with water balloons, water guns, beach balls or pool noodles.  Having a pool at home is a great way to stay cool, but when you’re not using it, keep it covered to conserve water. Keeping it uncovered allows a lot of water to evaporate.  If you don’t have your own pool, check out public pools in your area to see if they are open due to the restrictions from the COVID-19 virus.

No pool? No problem!

Don’t have a pool or access to a public pool?  Here are some ideas for you and your kids to still have loads of summer water fun:

• Fill a few plastic containers with water and paintbrushes and let toddlers paint the driveway and themselves!
• Make ice chalk with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of cornstarch and a few drops of food coloring. Use this icey chalk on sidewalks or driveways for cool summer fun.
• Drip, Drip Drop is like Duck, Duck, Goose – but just add water!  You need a bucket of water and a sponge.  Kids dip the sponge in the bucket and when they want someone to tag and chase them, they squeeze the water on that kid’s head.  It’s a favorite game that doesn’t use much water.  You can also do a wet sponge toss or make sponge balls for loads of fun. (To make sponge balls: stack 3 sponges from a dollar store on top of one another and cut them lengthwise into three strips. Cinch them together with a rubber band and you have a cool sponge ball for a number of different games using just a bucket of water!)
• Go outside with your kids during a summer rain shower when thunder and lightning are absent, or have fun playing in the puddles afterwards.  You can also collect the rainwater for filling water balloons, sponge balls and squirt guns.  Rain barrels can help kids understand the importance of water conservations while having water fun!
• Missouri has many creeks, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes that provide kids and adults alike tons of cooling water entertainment.  Visiting these natural areas is also a great way to help children learn about water critters and learn about their habitats.  Show kids how to make boats from fallen sticks, bark and leaves and have a boat race down a creek.  Pack a picnic lunch and make an unforgettable day of it!
• Lots of fun water conservation education games are available through the organization ‘Water – Use it Wisely’  (https://wateruseitwisely.com/kids/games/)

Summertime is so much fun. We can all beat the heat and enjoy fun in the water while conserving it!

Year ‘round water conservation

Conserving water outdoors and indoors is something we can do not only in the summer, but all year round.  Here are some tips on how you can be ‘water-wise’:

Indoor water conservation tips(1):

• Adjust the water in your toilet tank to a lower level so you and your family use less water per flush to conserve water.
• Fill a pitcher of water to keep in the fridge so water isn’t wasted while you wait for the tap water to cool to the desired temperature.
• Turn the water off while shampooing, brushing teeth, or shaving.
• Run the dishwasher only when you have a full load, and plug the sink while washing dishes.
• Rather than running leftover food through the garbage disposal, compost it to reduce water usage. While you’re at it, why not teach kids about composting?
• Wash fewer, larger loads of laundry rather than multiple smaller loads.
• Fix faucets that drip or have a small leak.
• Collect water from your dehumidifier and use that to nourish house plants.
• Look for rebates or cost-share programs on the purchase or installation of water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

Outdoor water conservation tips(1):

• Sweep driveways, sidewalks, porches, and decks rather than using water to rinse off dust and debris.
• Purchase an inexpensive soil moisture probe to assess soil moisture and the need to water vegetables, flowers, trees, and shrubs.
• Plant native or drought-tolerant plants that require less water.
• Ensure your in-ground irrigation system has a rain sensor installed; check that it is functioning to ensure your system does not run immediately after or during a rain.