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Water Conservation
(Taken from Use Less Stuff, a statewide educational campaign sponsored by the Oklahoma Dept. of Environmental Quality.)
CONSERVATION TIPS
A few common culprits to high water bills are leaky toilets, faucets, and outside sprinkling.
A quick check for a leaky toilet is to put food coloring in the tank, leave it sit for 30 minutes, then if you find coloring in the bowl you have a leak you need to fix.
A slow dripping faucet will use 350 or more gallons of water per month; a fast leaking faucet will use 2,000 or more gallons per month. When checking for leaky faucets, remember to check outside faucets as well.
Don't over-water your lawn. Healthy turf can be maintained with 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week (including watering and rainfall). Cut your grass to 2.5 to 3 inches so it doesn't dry out so fast. Water in the morning to lose less water to evaporation.
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Because water is usually so plentiful, available and cheap, we often casually disregard its importance and consider it an almost limitless resource. But world water usage has tripled since 1950 and users and suppliers in several states in the U.S. have been forced to deal with the harsh reality of dwindling water supplies. Episodes of water shortages and drought have already reared their ugly heads in Oklahoma, too. While local and state governments are working toward becoming prepared to deal with these emergencies, decision-makers, water managers and citizens must also realize that there are water use guidelines that can often stave off critical dry periods and the hardships associated with them.
Conservation of our water resources--specifically, activities designed to reduce water demand and improve efficiency of use--and ensuring the availability of fresh water for future generations involves changing habits and altering the manner in which we conduct our daily routines. In the home, the key is starting simply, such as turning off water when it is not being used, then gradually taking more advanced steps to reduce water consumption. On a larger scale, improved landscape designs, irrigation scheduling and better methods of irrigating crops, reclamation and reuse of wastewater, water budgeting and adoption of rate controls have all had considerable success in reducing both use and demand.
For approximately $10 to $20, the average homeowner can install two low-flow showerheads, place dams or bottles in their toilet tanks, put low-flow aerators on the faucets and repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Showers and faucets account for approximately 25% of your indoor water use. The average tank on the back of your toilet holds about 6 gallons of water. Only 2-3 gallons are needed per flush, but all 6 go down the drain. In fact, almost 40% of the water that comes into your home goes down the toilet. A small drip from a leaky faucet isn't just a drop in the bucket--even a slow leak can waste 4-5 gallons of water a day. Worn-out washers, one of the most common causes of leaky faucets, is also the easiest and cheapest to fix. In just one year, these modifications can pay for themselves, saving a family of four from 10,000 to 25,000 gallons of water.
Simply changing some personal habits can also save a lot of water. Does the water run while you wash your face, brush your teeth, or shave? Letting the faucet run just while you brush your teeth-- for 3 minutes in the morning and 3 minutes in the evening--wastes up to 9 gallons of water per day. Washing dishes by hand while the water is running for just 10 minutes uses about 15 gallons of water, much of it wasted. This method wastes water even if you turn off the tap while you scrub. Washing a small load in a dishwasher wastes up to 12 gallons of water. Washing dishes in a tub or partitioned sink with two sections, one for sudsy water and the other for rinse water, uses about 4 gallons of water. How much water goes down the drain before you get water cold enough to drink? On average, 24 cups of clean water are wasted each time we wait for the water to turn cold by letting it run. If you'll fill a reusable bottle with tap water and keep it in the refrigerator, you will save about 550 gallons of water per person each year. How much water do you need to get your body clean? The average shower uses 5 gallons per minute. This means you could save 25 gallons of water by staying in the shower for 5 minutes instead of 10. A bath can use 30 to 50 gallons of water--up to twice the amount you need for a 5-minute shower.
Outdoors, even more water and money can be saved through water conservation in lawn and garden areas. If you have a lawn and water it, there's a good chance it's being over-watered by a third. The average quarter-acre of lawn gets about 22,000 gallons a week more than it needs! Most established lawns need only one of water a week. Water early in the morning or early evening to avoid evaporation. Keep your grass between 2" and 3" to provide natural shade that will help the soil stay moist. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to retain moisture. If you have a garden, at least 50% of the water you use may be wasted through inefficiency. You probably use about 60 gallons of water every time you water for just 10 minutes. Check all hose connections to make sure there are no leaks, make sure your hose nozzle has an off/on switch, water early in the morning, and direct water to the soil where it is needed. A deep soaking once a week is more effective than shallow watering every day. Whenever possible, landscape with native plants that require little water and upkeep. Also, you might want to consider installing a drip irrigation system.
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