Water Conservation

In today's environment of water shortages and conservation, everyone can take a few steps in conserving water.  To help conserve water and reduce peak demand times, the best practice year around is to modify sprinkler watering times. For even addresses, water Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and for odd address, water on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Some additional of the steps are listed below:

Check for Leaks

Leaks are a common problem, but an undetected leak can cost many dollars and waste hundreds of gallons a day. To test for a leak, turn everything off in the house, then go to the meter, and check to see if the red triangle is turning.  If it is turning, you have a leak somewhere.  Also, turn on your sprinkler and check for broken heads and leaks.

Practice Water Conservation for the Garden

Since over half of your water bill can be attributed to watering lawns, flowers, and gardens, a few simple steps can be taken to reduce consumption by about 25% without destroying ones lawn, flowers and gardens.  The steps are as follows:

• By planting warm weather tolerant grass and other plants such as St. Augustine and Bermuda, one can reduce water usage while still maintaining a beautiful lawn.  Check your local nursery for additional varieties.

• Adjust watering schedules towards maintaining lawn by its appearance instead of a set schedule.

• Modify automatic water sprinklers after rain fall.  

• Water only during the night or early morning.  Even addresses water on Monday, Wednesday & Friday and Odd address Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

• Make sure watering is focused on the plants and lawn and not streets or the house.

• Water on a time schedule.  Use this helpful chart to modify sprinkler system times.

Practice Household Conservation

• Wash only full washing machine loads which can use over 20 gallons of water per use.  Purchase

  water saving machines or front load machines, which use less water.  Refer to owner's manual for a

  machines water usage.

• Run only full dishwasher loads without extra cycles.  Hand washing dishes by filling the sink will use

  less water as long as the faucet does not continuously run.  A running faucet can deliver 5 gallons per

  minute.

• Purchase low water usage appliances, faucets, toilets, and nozzles to control water flow.

• Repair all leaks or drips immediately

• Use buckets of water and hoses with nozzles instead of a running hose.

• Never wash down sidewalks, driveways, or patios with water, instead use a blower or broom.

 

Drought Contingency Plan

In cases of drought, periods of abnormally high usage, other other temporary restrictions, a system may be required to limit non-essential water usage.  The purpose of the Drought Contingency Plan is to encourage customer conservation in order to maintain supply, storage, or pressure or to comply with the requirements of a court, government agency or other authority.  In the Drought Contingency Plan Summary, the various stages are listed along with the restrictions per stage.

Drought Contingency Plan Summary.pdf

Quick Steps to Follow

              1.   Sweep away, don’t use water

              2.   Slow flow with water-saving devices

              3.   Take quick showers

              4.   Keep water in refrigerator

              5.   Water lawn, not pavement

              6.   Flush when necessary

              7.   Wash full loads only

              8.   Use mulch

              9.   Save rainwater for use

             10.  Insulate hot water heaters and pipes

             11.  Fix all leaks