Conserving water in our daily activities is crucial to protecting our water resources. The average person uses around 200 gallons of water per day for tasks such as bathing, washing dishes, flushing toilets, and watering the lawn. Increased water usage reduces the amount of water available in our lakes, rivers and streams, which can increase the concentrations of natural and human pollutants.
Water usage in and around our homes is directly linked to the amount of wastewater that must be treated by our community treatment plants, which can put stress on these facilities as they keep up with population growth. It is important to manage daily water demand to protect water quality, reduce stress on wastewater treatment facilities, and keep water costs down.
Here are some tips for conserving water at home:
‒ Leaks: Regularly check for leaky pipes, faucets and toilets. A dripping faucet can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water per year and a substantial amount of money on a water bill.
‒ Showering and bathing: Consider taking shorter showers and only showering once per day. Turn off the water while shaving, brushing teeth, or washing your face. Install low-flow sink faucets, toilet valves and showerheads to conserve water.
‒ Dish washing: Fill the sink with soapy water rather than letting the faucet run constantly. Use a dishwasher, which requires only eight to 12 gallons per load, and run it only when full.
‒ Laundry: To decrease water use, only run the washing machine when you have a full load. Consider replacing old washing machines with high-efficiency machines.
‒ Car washing: Car washes use approximately 60% less water than washing a car at home. Car washes also send wash water to a treatment plant to remove the grime and soap from the water, instead of wash water running into a storm drain from driveway car washing.
‒ Landscaping: Avoid watering the lawn on hot or windy days to limit evaporation. Use mulch around trees, shrubs, and flowers to hold moisture in the soil. Use timers on lawn sprinklers to minimize excess watering and runoff into storm sewer systems. Reduce watering during the winter seasons when plants are dormant.
By conserving water in our daily activities, we can make a significant impact on protecting our waterways and preserving our precious natural resources.
For more information, please contact the environmental management office at 478-327-9243.
Stormwater Straight Talk is a quarterly column intended to educate and inform base personnel and families about stormwater management.