Here are some ways to limit indoor water use, which helps the environment and lowers your water bills.

• Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. A leaky faucet can waste up to 2,000 gallons of water per year. A leaky toilet wastes more than 200 gallons of water per day.
• Fill a pitcher with tap water and put it in the refrigerator rather than running the tap at length every time you want a cold drink.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your face, which saves between 10 and 20 gallons of water per person, per week.
• Take shorter showers. Approximately 15 to 25 gallons of water is used in the average five-minute shower.
• Don't let the water run constantly while washing or rinsing dishes.
• Run the dishwasher or washing machine only when there is a full load or use the low water level features.
• Consider composting food waste instead of running your garbage disposal. A disposal uses one gallon of water per minute, and compost makes a great soil conditioner.
• Install low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators and you will save thousands of gallons of water per year. The largest use of indoor water is to flush the toilet and, after that, to take showers and baths.

Remember that water conservation measures are in effect from May 15 to September 15. Currently, due to hot and dry conditions, outside water use is restricted to 7 to 11 p.m. on odd or even dates based on your odd or even address number. View our color-coded measures here that are indicated on signage throughout town when in effect.

Here are some tips for conserving water and having a healthy lawn.

• Water deeply, not frequently. Your lawn will be healthier if it receives about one inch of water every three to four days. Providing more will over-saturate the soil, causing water to run off.
• Make sure you are watering the lawn, not the street or sidewalk. Water that falls on pavement goes into our sewer systems, increases your water bill and wastes water.
• Use a rain gauge. Rain gauges will tell you how much rain has fallen and how much more water, if any, you should add by sprinkling the lawn.
• Sprinklers are available with dials that can be set to water specific amounts at specific times. You can purchase them at local hardware stores or garden centers.
• If you have an automatic system, make sure it has a rain meter installed. This will prevent the system from running during rainstorms, which are critical times for our water system to re-charge.
• Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants to retain water.
• If you are able, water your lawn in the early morning to avoid evaporation.
• Remember to follow our conservation measures from May 15 to September 15, watering only from 7 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. on odd or even dates based on your address number.

Disposing of unwanted and old prescription drugs and other unwanted pharmaceuticals by flushing them down the sink and toilet or throwing them in the trash is harmful to our environment. Safe disposal helps protect the environment and also prevents potential drug abuse.

The Orland Hills Police Department and Lockport Police Department provide drop-boxes for safe collection and disposal of these items. The Orland Hills drop-box at 16033 S. 94th Avenue is available during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lockport's drop-box at 1212 Farrell Road is available 24/7.

Residents can stop deliveries of the Yellow Pages phone directory or choose to receive only certain ones by visiting this website. The website also provides tips on how to properly recycle the directories.

Because phone directories are often discarded due to the ability to find phone numbers online or on smart phones, this adds to environmentally unfriendly paper waste.