Normally, we have access
to an abundance of water, so the importance
of water is often overlooked. For most of
us, water use is a habit. We usually do not
think about how much water we use.
Be aware of how much water you use! Awareness
is the first step in conservation.
The
average person uses almost 100 gallons of
water per person per day on daily household
activities. Water can be conserved
by making improvements in the home or by
modifying behavior. Here are some tips:
.
Repair
all leaks. A dripping faucet is more
than annoying - it is expensive. Even
small leaks can waste significant
amounts of water. Leaks inside the
toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of
water a day or more.
Place a weighted plastic one-half
gallon jug in the tanks of conventional
toilets to displace and save water with
each flush.
When constructing a new home or
remodeling your bathroom, install low
consumption (1.6 gallons per flush)
toilets.
Toilet leaks can be detected by adding a
few drops of food coloring or kool-aid to water in the
toilet tank. After waiting several
hours, if the colored water appears in
the bowl, the toilet is leaking.
Switch to an ultra low-flow showerhead. This could save you as much as 2.5
gallons every minute you shower. Take
short showers instead of tub baths. While a five minute shower uses 12 to 25
gallons, a full tub requires about 70
gallons.
.
Turn the
water off in the bathroom while
you are shaving,
brushing your teeth, or lathering up your
hands.
Use a dishpan or plug the sink for
washing and rinsing dishes. Do not
pre-rinse dishes prior to loading in a
dishwasher. Pre-rinsing is an
unnecessary and wasteful use of water.
Operate the washing machine and
dishwasher only when they are fully
loaded.
Use the proper water level or
load size selection on the washing
machine.
Pay attention to your water bill and
become familiar with your water meter -
use them to track your water use and
detect leaks.
If you have any
questions please contact the Water
Department at 256-775-7210 or wsd@cullmancity.org.
