Water Conservation

FIVE SIMPLE TASKS TO START SAVING WATER TODAY!

Think about water. It's a constant in our lives, being there 24 hours a day - everyday. All you have to do is turn on the faucet.

What most people don't realize is that it is a carefully manufactured product - cleaned, safe, and pumped into your home. The average person uses about 94 gallons of water per day and climbs to numbers more in the 349 in the summer!

Water can be reused over and over again, but unfortunately nature cannot process cleaned water as fast as our lives and our pace requires. The need to process water makes this happen, but at a cost. That is why water conservation is a good way of life!

Here are five (5) simple tasks you can do to start saving today!

  • Don't shower too long or fill the tub too full. Five minutes of showering and five inches of water in the tub are about all you need.

  • Try to use dishwashers and washing machines with full loads only. Though most machines feature short cycles, the cycles are still less efficient than a full load.

  • Water your lawn and garden with good sense. Do it early or late. See that the water goes where it should not on the sidewalk or driveway. A good soaking helps promote root growth, but often leads to excess use. Be sensible when watering.

  • Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15-20 gallons a day. That is almost 6,000 gallons a year!

  • Put a bit of food coloring in each tank. Without flushing , watch a fewe minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. If so, you have an almost invisible toilet leak that could result in a lose of up to 100 gallons a day.

Other tips can be found on:
www.WEF.org
www.wateruseitwisely.com
www.watertreaty.org
www.epa.gov
www.nrcs.usda.gov
www.conservewater.utah.gov
www.waterinfo.org/conservation
www.usbr.gov
www.cabq.gov


STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION
(From the City of Brentwood Newsletter)

The City of Oakley, along with the City of Brentwood, would like to remind residents and visitors that dumping anything down storm drains is prohibited. Storm water pollution is a major source of water pollution in California - damaging fisheries, habitats, limiting water recreation activities, and it poses a serious threat to the overall health of the ecosystem.

In order to help the City eliminate storm water pollution, please remember:

  • Only rain should go down the storm drain
  • Don't leave litter on your street where it may be flushed into the storm drain
  • Don't overwater lawns or hose down areas that have just been treated with fertilizers or pesticides.
  • Don't hose down driveways that have oil or antifreeze deposits; use cat litter instead to absorb the liquids, then sweep up and dispose properly
  • Collect and dispose of all waste properly Thank you.

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