Water Conservation is Always a Good Idea

After a very dry start to our summer, most areas in our watershed have received at least a few inches of rain during the last two weeks. Even so, water levels in area streams, ponds and underground aquifers are reduced, prompting some local governments and conservation organizations to call upon residents to think about using water wisely. Tewksbury Township adopted a resolution urging residents to adopt voluntary water restrictions earlier this month. Low water levels can contribute to higher concentrations of pollutants. Using water efficiently helps maintain supplies at safe levels, protecting both human health and the environment.

In the United States, water consumption generally reaches its annual peak in July or August. According to the EPA's WaterSense program, peak water usage in the average American home spikes to 1,000 gallons per day, about four times the amount used during the other seasons. The spike is use is largely attributable to outdoor uses including lawn and garden watering and filling swimming pools.

It isn’t hard to cut down on how much water you use – it pretty much boils down to making a conscious effort not to waste it by taking some common sense steps. Tips for reducing your personal use water abound on the internet. Here are a few to get you started:

• Replace spray nozzles on outdoor hoses with rotary nozzles and cut your water use by 30 percent. Rotary nozzles apply water more slowly and uniformly than spray nozzles, and this helps reduce runoff and wind drift while saving water.
• Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to water trees, gardens and flower beds.
• Cover your swimming pool when you are not using it. Pools lose significant amounts of water through evaporation.
• A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons every day. Test for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank water. If the colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking. Toilet repair advice is available at http://www.toiletology.com/index.shtml.
• Install a rain gauge and monitor rainfall amounts. Your lawn and gardens probably only need one inch of water each week. By monitoring how much water Mother Nature provides, you can determine how much additional water, if any, is needed.
• Buy or make a rain barrel to catch rain water from your roof. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for you to use when you need it to water plants, wash your car, or even to top off a swimming pool. It puts the water to good use when it would otherwise become stormwater runoff that would be diverted to storm drains and/or streams.