What can you do to make water conservation efforts float?
As uncertain as weather and climate have become, conservation efforts, like Earth Day, should be every day. Why wait until we experience a dry spell – conserve water in all that you do!
There are many ways you can conserve our precious water resources.
- At Home
- Bathrooms:
- Never use the toilet as a wastebasket.
- Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
- Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it - such as watering a plant or garden.
- Kitchen and Laundry:
- Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
- Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.
- Operate the dishwasher only when completely full.
- Use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
- Outside:
- Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than using the water hose.
- Wash cars with water from a bucket and when using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
- If you have a swimming pool, consider a new water-saving pool filter, lower water level to reduce splash out, and use a cover to reduce evaporation.
- Equipment:
- Repair leaks - a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day.
- Install ultra-low flow toilets, or place a plastic container filled with water or gravel in the tank of your conventional toilet. (Be sure it does not interfere with operation of the toilet's flush mechanisms.)
- Install low-flow aerators and showerheads.
- Bathrooms:
- Landscaping
- Watering:
- Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems.
- Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best) and do not water on windy days.
- Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.
- Planting:
- Minimize turf areas and use native grasses and plants in your landscape.
- Maintaining:
- Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface.
- Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to the root zone.
- Raise your lawn mower cutting height - longer grass blades help shade each other and cut down on evaporation.
- Minimize or eliminate fertilizing, which requires additional watering.
- Watering:
For more water saving tips go to: http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/resitips.htm