INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You might be very surprised to find out how much water you are actually using. By installing a water meter, you can raise your awareness and consequently reduce your water usage. If you already have a water meter, learn how to read it. Meters can be very helpful in detecting leaks - read the meter once, wait an hour or two without running any water, and read it again. If it has moved, something is leaking. There's a way to keep your grass and plants healthy while also conserving water. Water areas that truly need it, and only when there hasn't been enough rain. The best time of day to do your watering is in the morning or evening so that the water doesn't immediately evaporate, and don't water on cool, rainy, or windy days. Water your garden with a watering can or use a trigger nozzle on your hose to prevent extra water usage. You can build a rainwater collection system to watch the rain and use it for watering your plants, lawn or garden. Check your local water rules first to make sure it's allowed. Water deeply but less often. This will encourage plants to grow deeper roots, so that they need water less frequently. Put a timer on your sprinkler and outdoor faucets/taps. Look for inexpensive, automatic timers that screw between the hose and the hose bib, or install a programmable timer on your sprinkler or drip system. An automatic timer can also help you water at times of day when the water can be absorbed the best. If you water something manually, set a kitchen timer before you turn the water on, or stay with the hose the whole time. Know how to adjust your sprinkler and irrigation timer settings for the seasons. Water less or not at all during wetter, cooler weather. Don't over-water, and don't water any faster than the soil can absorb the water. If water is running off the lawn onto the sidewalk, cut the watering time or divide it into two smaller segments to allow time for the water to absorb. If you have irrigation on timers, make sure you monitor it from time to time. Fix broken sprinkler heads and pipes, and make sure that spray patterns are directed where they are intended. Consider using a drip irrigation system or something similar to save even more water. Adjust sprinklers if necessary so that they only reach areas that need water instead of the sidewalk or driveway. In terms of water-saving strategies, growing long grass is better than cutting it too short. Grass is able to grow deeper roots when it's longer, allowing it to be watered less often. Raise the height of your mower blade to avoid mowing your lawn too short. If you live in an area with infrequent rain, consider not planting grass and instead using plants from your area that don't need as much attention and water. Covering the soil around your plants with mulch will not only prevent water from evaporating, but it will keep your soil healthy and prevent weed growth. You want to find mulch that is organic - it'll improve your soil as it breaks down. The most common types of mulch are wood chips and bark. While a little bit more work, using a bucket instead of a hose to wash your car will cut down on water use. Many commercial car washes may use less water than you use at home, and many of them have water recycling systems to collect and filter used water. Use environmentally-friendly cleansers. This will enable you to reuse wastewater from washing to water the lawn or garden. If you need to clean your sidewalk or driveway, use a broom, rake, or leaf blower to remove dry matter. If the driveway or sidewalk still needs additional cleaning, use a bucket of water or let the rain do the rest. Using a hose will only waste water. If you have a pool, using a pool cover at night during the warmer months helps to prevent evaporation. In some places, emptying and refilling a pool is under severe restrictions, or even banned, so preserving this precious resource is crucial. Grey water is any water that's been used after running the dishwasher, shower, washing machine, or sink in your house. Depending on the laws where you live, it's possible to re-route grey water and use it to flush your toilets or water your lawn so as not to be wasteful. If watering plants, don't use grey water on anything you might eat, as the water could be contaminated. The easiest way to use grey water is to link it directly from the indoors to the outdoors using piping, and then use the water on your garden or yard.

SUMMARY: Install a water meter. Use smart watering tactics on your yard and plants. Time your water usage. Maintain your sprinklers and irrigation. Don't cut your grass too short. Use mulch on your garden to retain moisture. Use a bucket as opposed to a hose to wash your car. Don't wash the driveway or sidewalk with a hose. Cover your swimming pool. Use grey water to flush your toilet or water your lawn.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If your parents start questioning your relationship with a specific person, you could tell them that you're just friends. This may buy you some more time to keep hanging out. You could even tell them that you're romantically interested in someone else to throw them off the scent. This may be helpful if you want to date somebody who is the same sex as you but your parents don't know that you're gay or queer. If you choose to do this, be very careful about avoiding public displays of affection, like hand-holding and kissing. This is a definite gray area, but it could work if your parents haven't specifically said you can't go on group dates. Invite a whole group of friends, including the person you're going on a date with, to go to dinner, to the movies, or some other fun activity. When your parents ask about what you did while you were out, you can honestly say that you spent time with your group of friends. Tell your parents that you're going over to a friend's house and instead go out on your date. Make sure your friend knows that your parents think you are hanging out together. And make sure your friend is okay with this arrangement beforehand! This is always a little tricky, especially if your friend is going to be out somewhere they might run into your parents when you're supposed to be together. If you and your friend's parents are friends, this may not work. It would be really easy to get caught in a lie the next time they are talking. When you are making plans to see your date one-on-one, either talk in person or use an app rather than the messaging function on your phone. It's easy for your parents to access your messages but if you have private apps that are hidden, they'll be less likely to discover your plans. Check out the apps Telegram, Signal, CoverMe, Viber, and Kibo. They're all free to download, and they each offer ways to keep texts secure and private so that no one else can access them. Malls, restaurants, coffee shops, and similar places that are popular stomping grounds for your friends and family are going to be off-limits for one-on-one dates. If you do decide to go out in public, be aware of your surroundingsyou never know who could be nearby! For example, if you decide to meet at the movies, arrange to arrive and go into the theater at different times. Select seats at the back of the theater so you can be sure that no one will see you. If you or your date can drive, you could go to the next town over to spend time together.

SUMMARY:
Lie and tell your parents the person you're dating is just a friend. Hang out in groups so you can technically not break your parent's rules. Ask a friend to cover for you so you can go out on a date. Coordinate your dates through private apps to keep them secret. Stay out of public places where you might see people you know.