Every Drop Counts
______________________________________________________________________
Have a water efficient H2Oliday!
Preparing for and cleaning up after a holiday meals and parties can use much more water than ordinary, everyday use. Running your tap continuously while preparing food or washing dishes wastes water and can use more than two gallons of water every minute your tap is running. That's a lot when you're cooking a big meal for extended family members and friends! Find ways to reduce your water and energy use, for example:
- Scrape dirty dishes clean, instead of using water to rinse them before you put them in the dishwasher.
- If you don’t use a dishwasher, fill the sink with a few gallons of soapy wash water, clean your dishes, and put them aside. Then rinse them all together afterward.
Either of these simple practices could save 10 gallons of water. If every American household reduced their water use by 10 gallons on just Thanksgiving Day, it would save more than 1 billion gallons of water, as well as save any energy or materials used to pump or treat tap water.
October is National Kitchen and Bath Month
This is an annual event that helps promote ways to improve your bathroom or kitchen, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. A bathroom "mini-makeover" will save you water, energy, and money on utility bills. EPA's Watersense program has come up with simple facts and tips to pass along to our customers.
By clicking on the logo below you will be directed to simple facts and tips!
Aerating your Lawn
Aerating is a process that punctures holes in your lawn. Why do you want to puncture holes in your lawn? Along with many other reasons, it will help increase your lawns drought tolerance by providing better absorption. When you increase your lawns drought tolerance you may not need to irrigate nearly as much. This will help conserve water.
Aeration should take place in the spring or fall. Mostly, when grass is growing, the soil is moist (but not soaked), and on days with milder temps.
An aerator is something that you can rent from most lawn and garden centers.
Smart Irrigation Month
July is the most common month with the highest water usage. Most of the water use goes toward lawns and landscaping.
Mallory Valley Utility supports July as Smart Irrigation Month.
To learn more, click on the following link.
MVUD Supports Smart Irrigation Month
Landscaping With Native Plants
Landscaping with native plants require less maintenance and are cost-effective, which means you may use less water.
Click here to view a brochure that provides more information and a list of native plants for the Middle Tennessee region.
Rain Gardens for Nashville
Rain Gardens are a beautiful way to reduce your water usage and clean storm water. They are shallow, depressed gardens designed to collect rain water and allow it time to filter it through the ground. This also results in less water entering our stormwater systems and more water refilling the underground water table that keeps small streams flowing during the dry summer months. Rain Gardens are low maintenance and their native plants provide food for song birds and butterflies!
Download the brochure to learn how to plant your rain garden!
Rain Gardens for Nashville - A Resource Guide
Rain Gardens for Nashville was created through a water quality partnership between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County's Department of Water and Sewerage Services and the Nashville District of the US Army Corp of Engineers. All information contained in this posting was provided by Metro Water Services Stormwater NPDES Department (www.nashville.gov/stormwater).
Take The Pledge!
The EPA launched a campaign this year. It's called "I'm for Water". Make a pledge that "you're for water" and do your very best to conserve as much as you can. Need ideas on how to conserve? You're at the right spot. We have lots of great tips available here on our website.
Follow the link below to learn more about the campaign.
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pledge/
Saving Water During the Winter Months
Winterize your pipes- It is possible during the cold months for your pipes to freeze and burst. However, winterizing them may prevent that from happening. Most local hardware/do-it-yourself stores have kits available. If you think a pipe might be frozen, keep the faucet open and apply (slowly) heat to the area.
Going away?- If you plan on being away from your home for an extended period of time, you might want to consider draining your pipes before you leave.
Tankless Hot Water Heaters
Tankless hot water heaters provide hot water only when it is needed. Therefore, water and energy are saved. Click the link below to learn more about how they work and how to select a tankless hot water heater.
http://www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com/
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are a simple and inexpensive way to catch rain water for irrigating purposes. The best part, FREE WATER! You can also build them yourself! Check it out....
Do-It-Yourself Hydro Planter
The EarthBox is a "self-contained gardening system". The system will hold water for several days without needing replenishment. You can read more about this system by visiting the following website:
http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/
Instructions for the planter can also be found HERE
More Ways to Conserve Water
Collecting rain water for irrigating plants or gardens not only conserves water, but it also decreases the amount of water you'll have to purchase.
Don't over water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks. Tip: Step on your grass. If it springs back, when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water.
Water lawns and flowers during the early morning when temperatures are down and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
Don't waste cold water while waiting for hot water to reach the shower head or faucet. Capture it in a watering can or bucket to irrigate your plants.
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Check your toilet for leaks. Put dye tablets or food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, there's a leak that should be repaired.
Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. It slows down evaporation.
Use your water meter to check for hidden leaks. Read the water meter before and after a 2 hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read the exact same there may be a leak.
Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for full loads only.
Scrape the food on your dishes into the garabage instead of using water to rinse it down the disposal.
Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge. Running tap water to cool it off is wasteful. Store drinking water in the fridge in a safe drinking bottle.
Installing low flow faucet aerators will reduce the flow of water from the faucet without reducing pressure. You can find them at most home improvement stores and installation videos are available online.
Test your water sense at www.epa.gov/watersense
Previous page: Water Conservation
Next page: 111 Ways To Conserve Water