Water conservation refers to reducing the use of fresh water. In the Kalamazoo area our fresh water or drinking water source is groundwater.

In the Kalamazoo area our drinking water comes from groundwater. Water is an abundant resource in Michigan. Learning ways to conserve and protect our water resources is important!

Why is water conservation so important?

There are many reasons to conserve water including extending supplies, reducing pressure on sewage treatment facilities and using less energy. Saving water also saves energy for both your local water supplier, if you are connected to a public water supply and yourself, if you have your own private well.

As a result of conserving water, local public water suppliers would benefit from lower energy costs due to reduced pumping and treatment costs. Homeowners with private wells would see a reduction in energy use and result in lower electricity costs for pumping and water heating.

Follow These Water Saving Tips

  1. Limit showers to five minutes and install water efficient shower-heads.
  2. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and washing your hands.
  3. Run your wash machine and dishwasher when full. Make the switch to water efficient appliances will help save water too.
  4. Fix the drip! Repair leaky plumbing
  5. Replace older toilets with low-flow models.
  6. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak, eliminate the leak.
  7. Water your lawn early in the morning or late at night and only when needed. Watering your lawn during the coolest parts of the day helps prevent water loss to evaporation.
  8. Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collect in rain barrels and use for watering landscape and garden plants
  9. Go Native! Use native plants for your landscaping. They require less watering and less fertilizer.
  10. Be water wise with hose water usage. Choosing a ½ inch hose instead of a ¾ inch hose will save 1,300 gallons

Every drop counts. You can make a difference.

Try and do something each day that will result in saving water. Don't worry if the savings are minimal

There are many other effective ways to conserve water in and around your home. Visit Residential Water Conservation or Water Use It Wisely to learn more. Also read this resource on how kids can conserve water at home.


Please visit the Water Sense Program website, which is a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, focusing on making it easy for Americans to save water and protect the environment.

Groundwater 101

Where does groundwater come from? The rain! Each year in Kalamazoo County we get an average of 34-36" of rain. Approximately 65% of the rain is lost to evapotranspiration, 25% infiltrates into the ground to become groundwater, and 10% runs off to surface water.