Water Utility

We would like to remind customers of the value of water today.  With the extremes in weather changes, your surroundings are affected.  We are continuing a long run of dry weather and would like to ask all customers to conserve what water you are using. Although we are not regulating the use of water today, there is a growing possibility that a change may be coming if the continued dry spell continues. So, please be mindful of what water you use and use it wisely. Just remember, every drop counts, and every person can make a difference!  Thank you

• Check your indoor water-using appliances and devices for leaks. The largest water user inside the home is the toilet.
• Check your toilet for leaks. A leak inside the toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day. Check by adding a few drops of food coloring into the tank. If there is a leak, color will show in the bowl in about 30 minutes. Check for worn out, corroded, or bent parts. Replacement kits are relatively inexpensive and easily installed.
• Faucet leaks are usually visible; however there are some unnoticeable leaks in areas like the on/off handle or in the pipes below the basin.
• Drips of 60 drops per minute = 192 gallons per month; 90 drops per minute = 310 gallons per month; a 3” stream = 1095 gallons per month. This increases your monthly water and sewer bill.
• Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that flush themselves. Fixing a leak can save 500 gallons a month.
• Don’t let the water run while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing hands/face. This can save more than 100 gallons a week.
• Running your washing machine or dishwasher only when full could save you hundreds of gallons a month.
• Use a timer to keep showers to a 5 minute limit; this can save 1000 gallons a month.
• Run the dishwasher only when you have a full load. Automatic dishwashers use about 15 gallons per load.
• If washing dishes by hand, don’t let water run continuously for rinsing. If you have 2 sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you have only one sink, first gather all your washed dishes in a dish rack, and then rinse them quickly. Also, using the least amount of detergent necessary minimizes the rinse water needed.
• Check all hose connections for leaks.

• To reduce evaporation, water your lawn in the early morning or in the evening– and never on a windy day. When you water during the heat of the day or on a windy day, the water just evaporates. Watering during the day can actually harm your lawn by causing it to “burn”. Use a sprinkler that produces drops of water rather than a fine mist, to avoid evaporation. Turn soaker hoses so that the holes are on the bottom to avoid evaporation.
• Learn what type of grass, shrubbery and plants do best in your area, and in
• which parts of your yard, and then plant accordingly. If you have a heavily shaded yard, no amount of water will make the roses bloom.
• Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants so more water can be retained by the roots.
• Aerate the soil in the spring and fall to reduce runoff.
• Plant in the spring or fall, when watering requirements are lower.
• Adjust sprinklers carefully so only the lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
• Cover pools and spas to cut down on evaporation.
• Longer grass means less evaporation. Let grass grow taller in hot dry weather by the setting the mower one notch higher.
• Water trees & shrubs using a hand-held hose with a nozzle end or a drip system.
• Adjust your irrigation schedule to accommodate changes in seasonal water demand.
• Design landscapes appropriate for our water-use zone.
• Water retaining basins also allow water to be concentrated around the plants.
• Install one or more rain barrels under your downspouts.