May 16, 2007 9:19 pm US/Eastern
South Florida Water Crisis: Tips To Save Water
(CBS4)
From watering your lawn to flushing your toilet we've got 20 tips you can apply to everyday life to save money during South Florida's drought crisis:1. Don't overwater your lawn– no more than once a week in the winter or twice a week in the summer. A good rain eliminates the need for watering for up to two weeks. Buy a rain gauge. Most of the year, lawns only need one inch of water per week.
2. Plant it smart. Xeriscape landscaping is a great way to design, install and maintain both your plants and irrigation system. It will save time, money and water.
3. Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces evaporation and waste.
4. Position sprinklers so water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not on paved areas.
5. Install irrigation devices that are the most water efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of efficient devices.
6. Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches, or to its highest level. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture.
7. Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. Use it to water your indoor plants or garden.
8. Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
9. Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If you have a leak, the color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. (Flush immediately to avoid stains.)
10. If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
11. Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush. (Don't use a brick! There are devices available at most hardware and home centers.) Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts. Consider low-volume toilets which use less than half the water of older models. NOTE: In many areas, low-volume units are required by law.
12. Take shorter showers. Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version.
13. Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water to water plants.
14. In the shower, turn water on to get wet; turn off to lather up; then turn the water back on to rinse off. Repeat when washing your hair.
15. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of load you are using.
16. When hand washing dishes, save water by filling two containers – one with soapy water, one with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach.
17. Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don't let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.
18. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator, or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
19. Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of
food waste.
20. Do not waste water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other
waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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