Be Water Smart

The seasonal rain has been a welcome change. However, we are still in drought conditions. Conserving water is necessary for every Charlottean. Here are some water smart tips.

• Rinse produce in a bowl of water. Fill a bowl with water and let the kids help with preparing dinner.
• Put timers in the bathrooms. Race to see who can take the fastest shower, while still getting clean. If everyone in the U.S. shortened their shower time by one minute a day 85 billion gallons of water could be saved each year.
• Check for leaks. A dripping faucet can waste 2,700 gallons per year and can be fixed by simply replacing a washer. A leaking toilet can be checked by putting food coloring in the tank; if the coloring appears within 30 minutes, there is a leak. Flush immediately to avoid stains.
• Don’t waste water. Keep a bucket in the bathroom and kitchen to catch water while it warms up. The water can be used for watering plants or flushing toilets.
• Clean up after pets. Pet waste can contaminate water.
• Install a water-saving shower head. Kids can help mom or dad with this simple task. The shower head saves water and it decreases the amount of pollution created by heating up the water.
• Displace the toilet tank water. Save 5,000 gallons of water a year by filling a gallon size bottle with water and placing it in the tank.

Doing one thing every day to conserve our water will make a difference. Never pour water down the drain when there is another use for it. We all must continue with our efforts to conserve water and keep it clean.