Why Conserve?
Saving Water Makes Good Sense and Saves Cents
While nature's capacity to produce water seems limitless, the Lincoln Water System's (LWS) ability to deliver water to your home is not. In fact, the water you use is a carefully produced, quality product which is clean and safe. Your water is piped directly to your home through an elaborate delivery system.
During the summer when water use increases, LWS can deliver 80-90 million gallons a day. When water use approaches or exceeds this level, individual water conservation decisions become important.
Though the wise use of water in the summer is essential, water conservation needs to be a year-round effort.
Conserving water is a good idea for many reasons:
Water is not Limitless
Summertime water use pushes Lincoln's delivery and treatment systems to capacity.
As temperatures rise, so does demand. By using water wisely, we can keep water use within the system's capacity thus contributing to the health and safety of our community.
Saving Water Saves You Money
Remember, Lincoln's water rates are structured so as use goes up, so does the per unit total cost.
Over half the water we use in the summer goes to outside use for gardens, shrubs and lawns. By using water wisely outdoors, you can reduce your summertime water bill.
By conserving water indoors, you will save energy - energy used to heat water and run appliances that use water. Your wastewater bill is calculated on the average amount of water usage for domestic purposes during the winter. Indoor water conservation will reduce your energy, water and wastewater bills.
Water Costs More
Delivering water to Lincoln is becoming more and more expensive. It costs LWS more today to supply and treat water than it did ten years ago. Our facilities and operating costs represent tens of millions of dollars.
Conserving water will lengthen the service-life of our water supply, treatment and delivery system and maximize the return on our investment.
It's Just the Right Thing to Do
On a grand scale, water conservation protects the environment and preserves this precious natural resource.
Be Water Wise
Plant Water Wise
Use water-conserving plants in your landscape. A list of low water use/drought-tolerant plants is available at many of the local nurseries, University of Nebraska and Cooperative Extension Office in Lancaster County.
Water Your Lawn Wisely
- Water in the cool part of the day
- Know your plants' water needs
- Check your sprinkler coverage
- Perform annual maintenance of your automatic sprinkler system
- Know your soil type to prevent run-off
- Deep-soak your shrubs
- Aerate your lawn
- Only water when your lawn is dry
Use Water Wisely Indoors
- Check for leaks
- Install water-conserving fixtures
- Be aware of how you use water
Other Brochures
- Water Wise Plants for Lincoln & SE Nebraska
- Wise Ways to Water Your Lawn
- Wise Ways to Save Water Indoors
- Presented by:
- Mayor's Water Conservation Task Force
- Lincoln Water System
2021 North 27th Street
Lincoln, NE 68521
Acrobat Version of Brochure (133 K) 
