Summertime Water Conservation Tips
Usually, summer in Colorado Springs means using more water and having higher sewer and water bills. Even if your water comes from a well, using more water for irrigation can result in higher electricity bills and additional wear on your well pump.
And, even though we’ve had an unusually wet Spring in Colorado Springs, you’ll still appreciate our water conservation tips!
However, for many people this summer, they are not just concerned about higher bills. Some areas of the country are suffering long periods of drought and dry spells, so water use restrictions have been implemented which have made water conservation a summertime necessity these days.
Summer is looking pretty good with no big drought issues, but we all know how quickly a drought can resume, so it’s best to develop good water habits while we have plenty of water.
Small Changes Can Equal Big Savings
Fortunately, making a few of small changes to your regular water use routine and a few quick fixes around your home can save you both money and water – this summer as well as all year long!Water Savings Inside your home
Turn off the faucet. That is, when you are brushing your teeth. That can save you around 2 gallons per minute. If you do that each time you brush your teeth it will save you an additional 240 gallons of water per month. To save even more, turn off the faucet when you are shaving!Shower Instead of Bath
Take a shower instead of a bath. You might think it would be the opposite. However, typically, a five-minute shower uses just 10-25 gallons of water, and a full tub uses around 70 gallons. In order to minimize your shower time, don’t run your shower while you are shaving. If you enjoy a leisurely soak in the tub, stop up the drain immediately and adjust the temperature as it is filling up.Full Loads Of Wash & Repair
Only wash full loads of clothing. The average washer uses around 41 gallons per load, so the more loads that you wash, the more water you will use. To reduce your water usage, wait to do laundry until you have a full load. Repair your leaky toilet. Do you hear a sudden hissing sound of water when the tank is filling itself up again even though you didn’t just flush? Or is there a damp spot on the floor under the tank on a regular basis? About 2000 gallons of water per day can be wasted from a leaking toilet. Repair leaky shower heads and faucet. A small drip may not seem like a lot but 2,080 gallons per year is wasted by a faucet that drips 1 drop per second.Outside The House Water Conservation
The EPA reports that around 30 percent of a typical single-family household’s water use it spend outdoors, on gardens, landscaping, and lawns. p to 50 percent of this water gets wasted through runoff or evaporation. In order to avoid this type of waste and to reduce your water bill, make use of these tips: Do you have any leaking outdoor faucets? Those small drips can be expensive.- Water late or early in the day, when the air is cooler and the sun is lower so that less water gets wasted through the evaporation process. However, be aware, since your community might have watering restrictions in place that you have to adhere to.
- If you water by hand, aim the water at the base of the plants, at the roots. The entire plant doesn’t need to be watered.
- Set your sprinklers (the droplet type preferably instead of the mist type) so that only your vegetation is watered and not the street, sidewalk, or driveway.
- Time your sprinkler so that you don’t overwater (it can be just as damaging to your landscape to overwater as not watering enough). There are basic timers that cost less than $15 that can be hooked right onto the faucet.
