"Slow the flow, save H-2-0." Utahns are familiar with the tune of water conservation.

And even though the drought may be over, the Governor's Water Conservation Team announced Friday that it's a tune that's here to stay.

With Utah's precipitation 129 percent of normal and all but two reservoirs full, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert knows it would be easy to forget the water conservation habits the past six years of drought have taught. Still, with new developments and the population estimated to double over the next 20 years, Herbert wants the habits to stick and to use this year's extra water to get ahead.

"The projected population increase and the corresponding demand for water may exceed the available resources," Herbert said. The "slow the flow" campaign will pick up this week with commercials and newspaper inserts.

Larry Anderson, director of the Division of Water Resources, brought good news to those who have heeded drought advice: It's working. He reported that water consumption has gone down 13 percent since 2000. Water officials would like to see a 25 percent reduction by 2050.

"If we water less and water correctly, we can have green lawns and conserve water," Herbert said. The Governor's Water Conservation team offers free "water checks" and can provide customized watering schedules and conservation tips. For information, log onto www.slowtheflow.org.

Because 65 percent of all water consumed by homeowners is outdoors, Herbert offered four tips to aid water conservation.

• Refrain from watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., when water is most likely to evaporate.

• Water twice a week. According to the conservation team's Web site, northern Utahns should water for 21 minutes and southern Utahns for 27 minutes.

• Adjust sprinkler systems to avoid wasting water on concrete or other non-landscaped areas.

• Look for the bright yellow tag when shopping for plants. The tag indicates a water-wise plant.

"We must make water conservation our way of life," Herbert said while standing in the xeriscaped garden of the Department of Natural Resources. Herbert pointed to a plant with the tag and spoke of xeriscaping as the permanent way to reduce water.

Several Utahns and businesses have changed their landscaping to fit the desert environment they inhabit. Demonstration gardens in public areas teach those wanting to learn. Ron and Julie Miller of West Jordan recently converted their lawn to a water-friendly one and received West Jordan's top award for the project.

Julie Miller sees additional benefits to her new lawn.

"We didn't want to have to mow our lawn," she said, noting that she and her husband are in their 50s and don't have children around. "We didn't want to have to pay for water."

"The most readily available, least expensive and most environmentally sound source of water to meet our future water needs is the water we are currently wasting by not being water-wise," Herbert said, using the saying coined by Benjamin Franklin, "a penny saved is a penny earned."

For additional information, go to the conservation team's Web site at www.conservewater.utah.gov.

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E-mail: nandrews@desnews.com