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Water-
saving tips
With the recent dry spell and warmer temperatures, the Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority encourages all of its customers to conserve water and offers the following tips and steps to save water that apply to a hot-hot-hot Quiet Corner.
1. Prevent sprinklers from watering driveways, sidewalks and streets. Experts estimate that 50 percent of the water we use outdoors goes to waste from evaporation or runoff due to overwatering.
2. No use of sprinklers during periods of precipitation.
3. Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing them off. Don’t forget to check for leaks at your spigot connection and tighten as necessary.
4. Raise your lawn mower blade. Longer grass promotes deeper root growth, resulting in a more drought resistant lawn, reduced evaporation, and fewer weeds.
5. Use the following three simple water saving steps: Check. Twist. And replace.
a. First, check toilets to reveal any silent leaks. Easy-to-fix household leaks can waste enough water each year to fill a backyard swimming pool. Just add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank and wait 10 minutes before flushing. If dye appears in the toilet bowl, your toilet has a leak. If you find a leak, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak for do-it-yourself repair tips or contact a plumbing professional.
b. Second, if you don’t have them already, twist an aerator onto each bathroom faucet to save water without noticing a difference in flow. Faucet aerators cost as little as a few dollars and can save a household more than 500 gallons each year – enough to do 14 loads of laundry.
c. Third, replace your old showerhead with a WaterSense-labeled model, which helps you shrink your water footprint while still enjoying a satisfying shower. Making this switch reduces a household’s water use by 2,300 gallons annually.
6. A tip for determining if your lawn needs water is to step on it. If the grass springs back, then it doesn’t need water.
7. It’s best to water lawns and landscapes in the early morning and late evening because significant amounts of water can be lost due to evaporation at other times of the day.
8. Inspect irrigation systems and check for leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads. Fix sprinkler heads that are broken or spraying on the street or driveway.
Want to do more? Then visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find out more about water saving tools.