Preserving Water
Our Greatest Natural Resource!

Did you know?
Key Links
Preserving Water In Your Home
Preserving Water Outside Your Home
At Work & Around Town

Did you know....?

• Only 0.3% of the earth's water is usable
• There is the same amount of water on earth as there was when it first formed
• 75% of the human brain is water
• Over 70% of the human body is water
• 75% of a living tree is water
• It takes about 1,000 gallons of water to grow the wheat to make a 2 lb loaf of bread!!

Key Links:

Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Conserve Water, Georgia
Surf Your Watershed
EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, & Watersheds
National Small Flows Clearinghouse
Get Wise
National Rural Water Association

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Source: National Small Flows Clearinghouse

Preserving Water In Your Home:

The Toilet

• Use food coloring to check for leaks
• Consider purchasing LowFlow that can reduce water use by 20%
• Dispose of tissue & other waste in the trash

The Shower/Bath:

• Replace shower head with ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute
• Take shorter showers (5 minutes maximum)
  • Try a Navy shower:
    • Get wet & turn water off
    • Soap & scrub
    • then turn water on to rinse off
• Turn water off while shaving, washing face & cleaning teeth
• Try decreasing the water flow to adjust shower/bath water temperatures
• Close drain BEFORE filling the tub
  • Only fill the tub 1/3 full

The Kitchen:

• Use a compost heap rather than your sink disposal
• Defrost meat in the refrigerator over night
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator
• Fully load dishwashers before use (they use the same amount of water)
• Buy dishwashers with water & energy savings options
• If washing dishes by hand:
  • Rinse sparingly with slow stream of water
  • Use waste water to run sink disposal if necessary

Other Appliances:

• Adjust water to load size
• Wash full loads whenever possible
• Buy water & energy saving appliances (horizontal loading machines use less water)
• Install a hot water recirculation device
  • You can save 2-3 gallons of water each shower taken, or 16,500 gallons per household per year!!
• Install air-to-air air-conditioning systems only
• Install water softening systems only when necessary
  • Turn them off while on vacation

Reuse Water:

• Use waste water to water plants or for cleaning
• Use fish tank water for your plants & garden

Maintenance:

• Verify that your home is leak free
  • Check water meter over a 2 hour period when no water is being used
  • If meter changes, you have a leak
• Repair dripping faucets
• Retro-fit faucets with aerators with flow restrictors
• Insulate your water pipes
• Check well pump to ensure it turns off & on when needed

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Preserving Water Outside Your Home:

Watering Your Yard:

• In general lawns only need watering every 5-7 days during summer
• Water lawns during early morning to limit waste
• Ensure all of your water is going on your lawn & shrubs to limit waste & run-off
• Utilize water efficient sprinklers:
  • E.g. micro, drip & soaker
• Regularly check watering systems
• Always attend to outside watering & use timers to limit water used

Lawn Care:

• Raise your lawn mower blades to at least 3 inches
  • Longer grass encourages deeper root systems
  • Shades root systems
  • Holds soil moisture more efficiently
• Limit use of fertilizers which require more water

Landscaping:

• Mulch to:
  • Retain moisture
  • Control weeds which compete for moisture/water
• Plant native &/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs & trees
• Group plants based upon similar watering needs
• Minimize the grass in your yard to minimize watering needs
• Buy a rain gauge to guide your watering needs

Other Ways to Conserve:

• Sweep your driveway & side walks
• Check hoses, faucets, spigots regularly
• Use only water recycling water features (preferably solar powered)
• Use water-saving pool filters
• To clean your car:
  • Use a commercial car wash that recycles water
  • Wash your car on your lawn
  • Use a hose with a pressure nozzle
• Avoid using recreational water toys

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At Work & Around Town:

• Encourage your employer to promote water conservation
  • Conservation tips included in the employee training manual
• Support projects that increase the use of reclaimed waste water
• Promote water conservation within the community
  • Via groups & by example
• Patronize businesses that practice & promote water conservation & other conservation strategies
• Report any water waste issues (broken pipes, open hydrants, free-flowing wells, etc.) to property owners & local authorities
• Encourage & support your school system & local government in promoting water conservation ethic & strategies
• YOU are in CONTROL:
  • Do one thing each day to conserve water (EVERY DROP COUNTS)
  • Be aware of & follow all water conservation & water shortage rules & restrictions
  • Educate others about the need to conserve water

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