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Water Conservation: Every Drop Adds Up
By
Carol L. Spence
 LEXINGTON,
Ky., (Sept. 12, 2007) – Despite some rain falling on parts of
Kentucky over the past few days, the state remains locked in
drought conditions. Across the Commonwealth, the level of
reservoirs, lakes and rivers continues to drop. However, if
everyone took simple measures at home to save water, it would
have a huge impact on Kentucky’s water reserves.
Ashley Osborne, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
associate for environmental and natural resource issues, said,
“It would save quite a bit of water if we all tried to conserve
water while cooking and cleaning or if we all took a Navy
shower,” referring to the practice of only running shower water
to wet down and rinse off.
By practicing the following simple conservation methods, Osborne
said a family of four could save 50,000 to 100,000 gallons of
water a year. That’s not only good for the environment, but it’s
good for the budget.
Don’t let water run longer than necessary. Turn off the tap when
brushing your teeth. Wet the toothbrush and put a little water
in a glass, which can then be used to rinse. When washing your
hands, don’t keep the water running.
When bathing, take five. Take a five minute shower, or if a bath
is your preference, use no more than five inches of water in the
tub.
Appliances and faucets can leak. Though a slow leak or drip
might not seem like much, it can add up to a lot of wasted water
and a big water bill. In a single day, a dripping faucet can
send 25 gallons of water down the drain.
Check your toilet for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in
the toilet tank. Check the bowl after an hour. If the color
shows up in the bowl, there’s a leak in the system. A leak can
be caused by a broken flush valve, which is easily and
inexpensively replaced. Call a plumber or head to your local
hardware store.
Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator, to avoid
running the tap for cold water. If you must run the tap to clear
the line of accumulated lead deposits, catch the runoff in a
bowl and use it to water house plants or parched shrubs.
Osborne also suggests cooking meals that don’t use water. Fixing
one-dish meals in which the meats and vegetables create their
own water can save quite a few gallons over the course of a
year.
Many municipalities have begun watering restrictions. On days
when you are permitted to water your landscape, concentrate more
on watering young shrubs and trees. Don’t worry about your
grass. It will go dormant during hot, dry weather, but will
revive once rain and cooler temperatures set in. Throw another
layer of mulch around the base of your shrubs and trees to
conserve soil moisture. Make sure you water in the early morning
or evening, to keep water from being lost through evaporation.
Water under the plants rather than with radiating sprinklers,
which lose moisture through evaporation during the hottest part
of the day. Check your hoses, sprinklers and faucets for leaks.
Usually replacing the washer will correct the problem for only a
few cents.
“If everybody followed these tips all throughout Kentucky, it
would make a big difference,” Osborne said.
For more water conservation tips, contact the local extension
office. |
Contact: Ashley Osborne, 859-257-2505
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The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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Copyright © 2001-2006 University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture,
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
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