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. There are several things that you can do as an individual to help preserve our earth's water supply.

• Water your lawn early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation.
• Do not over water your lawn.
• Use lawn chemicals only when necessary.
• 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.

Together, we share in the benefits of some of the safest drinking water in the world, and it is incumbent upon us all to protect this valuable natural resource for future generations. By making simple changes in our daily routines, we can feel confident that we are doing our part.