While you celebrate with family and friends this holiday season, remember that this is our dry season. Try to use as little water as possible while you prepare to celebrate the holidays.

The Miami-Dade Water-Use Efficiency Program offers the following tips for water conservation during the holiday season:

• Defrost frozen items in the refrigerator, not under running water.
• Wash vegetables and fruits in a bowl, using a vegetable brush, rather than letting the water run.
• Substitute chicken broth for water in your mash potato, rice and stuffing recipes.  It'll taste even better!
• Consider using festive disposal plates and utensils. You'll have fewer dishes to wash, and clean up will be easier and faster, leaving you more time to spend with your friends and relatives.
• When washing dishes, keep soap use to a minimum to reduce the amount of rinse water needed.
• Do not run the kitchen faucet continuously while washing dishes. Use one sink for washing and the other for rinsing.
• Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Clean plates and pans by scraping food into the trash instead of running the garbage disposal which requires additional water to run properly.
• Run only full loads in automatic dishwashers.
• If out-of-town guests need to do laundry, mix your clothes with theirs so you have a full load of laundry.
• For your outside landscaping, avoid planting some new ornamental plants.  Although they look beautiful, they require a large amount of water to maintain.  Instead, look into planting some Florida-Friendly plants.
• Use mulch to retain moisture in your soil. Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with your plants for water.
• When washing your car, place it on a grassy area.In that way you can also water some of your grass at the same time. Remember to use a handheld hose with a shut-off nozzle.
• As we enter the dry season, don't forget that we continue to be under water restrictions.