WHY SAVE WATER AND HOW TO AVOID WASTING IT?

Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water:

  • Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessitates of life;
  • Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump[ water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and
  • Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restriction so that essential fire fighting needs are met.

You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can.  It is not hard to conserve water.  Conservation tips include:

  • Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded.  So get a run for your money and load it to capacity.
  • Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
  • Check every faucet in your home for leaks.  Just a slop drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day.  Fix it and you can save almost 6,000 gallons a year.
  • Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color show up in the bowl.  It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks.  Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.
  • Use you water meter to detect hidden leaks.  Simply turn off all taps and water using appliances, and then check the meter after 15 minutes.  If it moves, you have a leak.

Other conservation measures you can take include:

  • Use low flow shower heads - save 2 gallons per minute or more
  • Don't flush toilets unnecessarily - use a wastebasket for tissues, etc.
  • Use of a toilet dam or installation of a low flush model toilet will reduce your water usage
  • Water your lawn early in the morning to reduce evaporation loss
  • Don't cut the lawn too short - longer grass saves water
  • Mulch your trees and plants to retain moisture