April is Water Conservation Month. The city of Clearwater’s Public Utilities department encourages residents to conserve water year round.
American residents use about 100-125 gallons of water per day. The average faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. A running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. Nearly one-half of the water used by Americans is used for thermoelectric power generation.
By implementing a few simple strategies, you can help save one of our greatest resources. Here are some things you can do:
– Fix drippy faucets. A one-drip-per-second leak can waste as much as seven gallons of water in one day, or 3,000 gallons per year, so take time this month to fix your leaky faucets.
– Take showers instead of baths, since a typical five-minute shower uses about 28 gallons less water than a bath.
– Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and you could save up to four gallons each morning and night.
– Check your outdoor sprinkler system and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered — not the house, sidewalk or street.
– Be sure to comply with watering restrictions by watering your lawn during the authorized days and times. (Watering restrictions change regularly. Information is available at myclearwater.com/watering.)
– Use a hose with a shutoff nozzle when hand-washing your car, so you aren’t wasting water while washing your vehicle.
– Install low-flow water devices. Clearwater Public Utilities gives away water-saving devices such as low-flow showerheads, sink aerators and toilet tummies. Call (727) 562-4600 to obtain one.
– Wash clothes in cold water as often as you can, and use the smallest load function possible on your washing machine.
Join us in the effort to save water. For more information, call (727) 562-4960 or visit myclearwater.com. Select “Public Utilities” from the “City Departments” drop-down box, and click on “Water Conservation.”