| Tips from the South
Florida Water Management District.
Saving Water Indoors
1. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it
such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
2.Verify that your home is leak free. Read your water meter before and
after a 2 hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does
not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
3.Repair leaking faucets. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of
one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2700 galloons per year.
4. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food color to the tank. If
the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30
minutes. Most replacement parts are readily available at your local
hardware store.
5. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues,
insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
6. Install a toilet dam or water displacement device for your toilet
tank. When purchasing new toilets, consider low-volume units which
use less than half the water of older models.
7.Take shorter showers. Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow
version.
8. Use minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the
drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. Don't let the water run
down the drain while waiting for it to reach the proper temperature.
9. Do not let water run while shaving or washing your
face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot,
then wash or shave after filling the basin.
10. Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators
with flow restrictors.
11. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they
are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you
are using.
12. Then washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy
water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
13. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the
tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
14. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen
foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the
defrost setting on you microwave. |
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15. Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate
properly. Start a compost pole as an alternative method of disposing
food waste instead of using a disposal.
16. Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink
so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will
also reduce heating costs for your household.
17. Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster
plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
18. Never install a water-to-air heat pump or air conditioning
system. Newer air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not
waste water.
19. Install water softening systems only when necessary. Save
water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to
maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.
20. Check your pump. If you have a well at your home, listen
to see if the pump kicks on and off while the water is not in use. You
may have a leak if it does.
21. When adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning water flow
up, try turning it down. If the water is too hot or cold, turn the
offender down rather than increasing water flow to balance the
temperature.
22. If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush
position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
Saving Water Outdoors
23. Don't over water your lawn. As a
general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and
every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need
for watering for as long as two weeks. Plant it smart, Xeriscape.
Xeriscape landscaping is a great way to design and maintain both your
plantings and irrigation system that will save you time, money and water.
24. Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and
wind speed are the lowest.
This reduces losses from evaporation.
25. Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position
your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs...not the
paved areas.
26. Install sprinklers that are the most water efficient for each
use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of
water efficient methods of irrigation.
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