ATLANTA - We've all heard about outdoor water restrictions in the state of Georgia, but conservation indoors can make a huge difference.

During this time of drought, water conservation becomes more important, as area lakes and rivers continue to have below average levels.

WaterSmart is a water conservation education program that encourages Georgians to conserve water indoors this winter.

"By following waterSmart's simple conservation tips, anyone can save thousands of gallons of water inside the home this winter," said the program's director Becky Mixon.

During the winter, rainfall generally tends to be more steady in Georgia, and evaporation rates are much lower than during the summer months, so now is a good time to conserve.

Some indoor water conservation tips:

1. Install an affordable low-flow shower head to save an average of 30 gallons of water each time you shower.

2. Always turn off tap water when brushing your teeth.

3. Fix leaky toilets. You can test your toilet for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If color appears in the bowl after 30 minutes, the toilet has a leak.

4. Place a 2-liter bottle in the tank of a standard toilet, away from the plunger, and save 2 liters of water for each flush.

5. Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the size of your laundry load.

6. Take short showers instead of baths.

7. Only use your dishwasher for full loads, and use the short cycle.

8. Pour unwanted bottled water on a thirsty house plant instead of down the drain.

9. Check in and around the home for leaky faucets and pipes.

10. Schedule and appliance maintenance check-up every 3-4 years (could help reduce power consumption, too!)

Also, one note about outdoor watering--most plants and grasses do not need to be watered during the wintertime. Therefore, except in cases where new vegetation has recently been planted, most winter watering is unnecessary. By cutting off automatic sprinklers during the winter, this also helps to avoid ice on roadways on cold nights.

For more information and tips about water conservation, visit www.watersmart.net or www.conservewatergeorgia.net.