Man with beard

The Good News

Have you heard the good news? You do not have to go to extremes to substantially reduce your use of water. You just need to be conscious of how you use water and the various ways you can conserve water in your daily activities.

There are many ways you can save water. For example, do not leave the water running while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving. Take shorter showers and use high efficiency shower heads.  Install an inexpensive aerator on your kitchen sink reducing water flow to less than one gallon an hour. Try soaking pots and pans instead of scrubbing them under running water. You can refrigerate your drinking water instead of allowing the faucet to run until it cools. Finally, wash only full loads of laundry.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 12% of household indoor water use is lost to leaks. One of the most common leaks is found in the bathroom. Here is a simple dye test you can complete to see if your toilet is leaking.

  • Drip 10 to 15 drops of food coloring into the toilet tank.
  • Wait 10 minutes.
  • If colored water appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.
  • Generally, the leak is in or around the plunger ball or flapper valve at the bottom of the tank. This item are inexpensive parts and easy to replace.

Taking small deliberate steps will soon become habits and lead you down the road to water conservation. Share the good news with others that water conservation does not have to be difficult, time consuming or expensive.

Coffee cup with flower on a table

Why Saving Water Matters

Meeting future water demands in Florida can only be met in two ways: by increasing our water supply or decreasing its use. Water is essential to our health, communities, environment and our economy. As our state population grows, the demand for water will continue to rise. The smallest amount of wasted water can add up to big losses. For example, 30 drops of water from a faucet leak can equal 1,752 gallons a year!

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Residents of Florida need to remember that water is a shared resource. Other uses include agriculture, fish habitat, industry and recreation. All these water uses can put pressure on local water supplies, especially during the dry season.  Conserving water leaves more of it in the underground aquifer, streams, rivers, and lakes when it is needed most. Using water more efficiently helps maintain supplies at safe levels, protecting human health and the environment. If we do not save water, we can face many consequences such as:

  1. Disturbance in our personal hygiene like bathing, washing clothes, etc. due to shortage of water.
  2. The crop production will decline due to the lack of water for irrigation in fields.
  3. There will be dry conditions leading to more severe droughts.
  4. Lack of water for landscaping and recreation will impact our lifestyle and property values.

No matter what it is you’re doing, always ask yourself, “Do I need that much water?” When you avoid unnecessary water use you contribute to the long-term health and future water supply for everyone.

man and woman washing dishes

Holiday Time Is Water Conservation Time

During the holidays, water plays a role in everything from food preparation to the cleanup process. Here’s how to incorporate water conservation into your holiday preparations:

  • Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave instead of running hot water over them.
  • Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or pan filled with water instead of under running water. This water can then be reused to water houseplants. A running faucet can use up to 4 gallons per minute.
  • When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water and fill the rinsing sink one-third to one-half full. Avoid letting the water run continuously in the rinsing sink.
  • Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
  • Scrape food scraps into the garbage can or a composting bin, rather than rinsing them into the sink’s garbage disposal. A garbage disposal uses up to 4.5 gallons of water per minute.
  • Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load. Dishwashers use between 7 and 12 gallons per load.
  • Remind overnight house guests to limit their shower time to 5 minutes to conserve water.
  • Choose an artificial Christmas tree since they do not require water, are not a fire hazard and preserve our tree canopies.

Don’t let the busy holiday season keep you from practicing good water conservation habits.

Water drop image

April is Water Conservation Month

Palm Beach County Commission passed the Mandatory Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Conservation Ordinance. The provisions of this Ordinance apply to all users providing landscape irrigation from all water resources within the boundaries of unincorporated Palm Beach County with the following exceptions:

  1. Use of Reclaimed Water, which may or may not be supplemented from another source
  2. Irrigation for Agriculture
  3. Irrigation at Athletic Play Areas

Link to: PBC ‘s Year-Round Irrigation Ordinance

 

man and woman washing dishes

Holiday Time Is Water Conservation Time

During the holidays, water plays a role in everything from food preparation to the cleanup process. Here’s how to incorporate water conservation into your holiday preparations:

  • Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave instead of running hot water over them.
  • Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or pan filled with water instead of under running water. This water can then be reused to water houseplants. A running faucet can use up to 4 gallons per minute.
  • When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water and fill the rinsing sink one-third to one-half full. Avoid letting the water run continuously in the rinsing sink.
  • Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
  • Scrape food scraps into the garbage can or a composting bin, rather than rinsing them into the sink’s garbage disposal. A garbage disposal uses up to 4.5 gallons of water per minute.
  • Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load. Dishwashers use between 7 and 12 gallons per load.
  • Remind overnight house guests to limit their shower time to 5 minutes to conserve water.
  • Choose an artificial Christmas tree since they do not require water, are not a fire hazard and preserve our tree canopies.

Don’t let the busy holiday season keep you from practicing good water conservation habits.