West Virginia is under a drought State of Emergency and Western Maryland is under a drought watch during this dry summer with historically low levels of water in area rivers.
Environmental officials are offering up water conservation reminders to encourage homeowners, residents and businesses to make the most of the water they draw from various sources. 
During dry periods, wells and underground aquifers take longer to recharge. Public water systems that draw water from area rivers have lower supplies as well.
While no public water system has put mandatory water restrictions in place, public officials urge the public to help conserve water until normal precipitation levels return.
Inside the home
Approximately 60% of total household water supply is used inside the home in three main areas: the kitchen, the bathroom and the laundry room.
Follow these tips to reduce water use indoors:
–Make sure all faucets are tightly turned off and not leaking: A leaking faucet could waste up to 4,000 gal/year
–Replace old faucets with new water-efficient models or install aerators to reduce flow
–Run dishwasher only when full
–Consider water use when purchasing a new dishwasher: New water and energy efficient models use 20% less water
–Defrost food in refrigerator instead of using running water: A running faucet uses about a gallon of water per minute
–Use a dishpan or plug the sink when hand-washing dishes
–Don’t prerinse dishes before loading into dishwasher
–Keep a container of water in the refrigerator rather than waiting for cold water from faucet
–In the bathroom, install low flow toilets or toilet dams
–Test all toilets regularly for leaks: A leaking toilet could waste up 100 gal/day
–Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket
–Replace old showerheads: Low flow showerheads can save 3 gal/min
–Take shorter showers
–Turn off water when shaving or brushing teeth
–In the laundry, run full loads of laundry instead of many small loads
–Consider energy and water efficiency when purchasing new laundry machines: Newer models use 40% less water and can save up to 6000 gal/year
Outside the home
Forty percent of total household water supply is used outside the home. Follow these tips to reduce water use outdoors:
–For landscape irrigation, install efficient irrigation systems such as drip irrigation, soil soakers, and efficient sprinkler systems
–Set sprinklers for lawn and garden only, don’t water the street or sidewalk
–Water the lawn only when the ground is dry and preferably no more than once a week. The amount of water used by a sprinkler in one hour is equal to the daily water needs of a family of four
–Water during the coolest part of the day (preferably morning) and never water on windy days: As much as 30% of water used can be lost to evaporation by watering lawn during midday
–Pull weeds to decrease competition for water
–Increase mowing height to 2-3 inches and apply mulch to both reduce evaporation and prevent weed growth
–Limit grass areas and use trees, shrubs, and other plants that require less water to landscape your yard: Grass turf requires 30-50% more water than shrubs and other groundcover
–Repair or replace leaking hoses and sprinklers
–Always use an automatic shut-off nozzle on hoses
–Use a broom rather than a hose to clean decks, sidewalks, and other paved areas: 5 minutes of running the hose uses 25 gallons of water
–Collect rainwater for reuse in the garden whenever possible
–Cover pools to prevent evaporation: An average uncovered pool loses about an inch of water a week because of evaporation.
