The increase in water consumption this time of year creates a larger demand on local water utilities. Water supply, treatment and storage facilities are often built two, three or even four times larger to supply additional demands created by lawn watering. This extra capacity is not used for most of the year and adds significant costs to the design, construction and operation of a water system. Water customers and communities can save money by using water more efficiently. These water efficient lawn watering practices can help maintain a beautiful year and conserve valuable water supplies.
Thinking of installing or choosing a new sprinkler system? While having the right sprinkler will certainly make watering your lawn much easier, there are other steps you’ll need to take to ensure maximum effectiveness. This buying guide by Home Depot is a great tool to educate yourself before making a buying decision or help you utilize the system you already have effectively.
However, water conservation doesn’t just have to happen outside of the home. Did you know that turning off the water while you brush your teeth can save approximately 4 gallons of water a minute? That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four! Or, that taking showers instead of baths can save 30 gallons of water? Filling the bathtub uses about 50 gallons of water! There are many indoor water-use habits that could help when cutting water usage as well. For instance:
- Washing only full loads of laundry and dishes
- Fixing household leaks promptly
- Spending only 5 minutes in the shower
- Turn off the water while you brush your teeth
- Install water-saving devices like high-efficiency toilets and washing machines.
For more startling facts about your average water consumption, visit phccweb.org.
Talk to your family about saving water, too! EcoKids provides a great game to show kids how they can do their part as well. To reveal simple water conservation tips, click on the rooms in the house. Play here!
Water is essential to our daily lives, but cutting water use inside and outside the home is becoming increasingly more important. If each of us changed our water-use habits, we could save billions of gallons of water, which in turn means savings for your pocketbook. What changes could you make to save?
