WATER CONSERVATION TIPS

AWWA recommends the following steps to help conserve water:

• Only run the dishwasher and clothes washer when they are fully loaded.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
• When washing dishes by hand, use two basins - one for washing and one for rinsing rather than let the water run.
• Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean sidewalks and driveways.
• If you have a swimming pool, get a cover. You'll cut the loss of water by evaporation by 90 percent.
• Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day.

Straight Talk on Water Conservation

As a society, we have become more and more environmentally conscious and better informed about the effect our lifestyles can have on the world around us. Yet, the demand for our most valuable natural resource—drinking water—continues to grow while local supplies can be threatened by drought conditions. Only one percent of the earth’s water is available for human consumption and yet, according to the latest U.S. Geological Survey, the United States uses 408 billion gallons a day. On the industrial level, numerous water-saving technologies have been employed to help conserve water. And while strong progress has been made, there are several simple steps that consumers can take to help preserve our water supply for future generations.

 

What Can You Do?

• Fully load the dishwasher and clothes washer before running.
• When washing dishes by hand, or when brushing your teeth, do not leave the water running.
• Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste up to 2,000 gallons of water each year in the average home. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons per day.
• If you have a swimming pool, use a cover. By so doing, you can cut the loss of water by evaporation
  by 90 percent.
• Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean sidewalks or driveways.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in a microwave instead of running hot water over the food.
• Do not pour toxic chemicals (such as cleaning products, motor oil, weed-killers, or paints) down the drain. Dispose of them properly.