Water conservation techniques - City of Lakeville

Money-saving tips• Check your water meter and water bill totrack your water usage. Being aware ofhow much you use is the first step in waterconservation.• Use your water meter to check for hiddenwater leaks. Read the house water meterbefore and after a two-hour period when nowater is being used. If the meter does notread exactly the same, there is a leak.• Install water-saving shower heads and lowflowfaucet aerators.• Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, andcouplings. Leaks outside the house maynot seem as bad since they’re not as visible.Check frequently to keep them drip-free.Use hose washers at spigots and hoseconnections to eliminate leaks.Did you know?Did you know that an American home canwaste, on average, 11,000 gallons of water everyyear due to running toilets, dripping faucets,and other household leaks? According to theEnvironmental Protection Agency, nationwide,more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak fromU.S. homes each year. Use the valuable watersavingtips in this brochure and check for manymore tips and ideas on the City website atwww.lakevillemn.gov.Water is too valuable to waste.Water facts• In 2013, Lakeville pumped 2.29 billion gallonsof water.• Water covers 70 percent of the earth’s surface.• Ninety-seven percent of the world’s water issalty or otherwise undrinkable.• Two percent is locked in ice caps or glaciers.• One percent remains to meet all of humanity’sneeds.Lakeville wateringordinanceResidents may water every other day, using anodd/even schedule. If your house number ends inan odd number, you may water on odd numbereddays of the month. If your house number endsin an even number, you may water on evennumbered days of the month. In addition, youmay only water before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m.Remember:Just because it’s your day to water,doesn’t mean you should.Water only if needed.www.lakevillemn.govWaterConservationWhat’s in itfor me?

Water conservation…Saves moneyWater conservation today can save you moneyon your next water bill. The more you conserve,the more you save.A family of four in Lakeville uses about 238gallons of water per day, costing about $25per quarter. However, during the summer, theaverage use skyrockets to 924 gallons per day,per family, nearly quadrupling their quarterlybill. This high use costs a family of four about$95 for the summer quarter.March average use:About 238 gallons perday for a family of fourIf families used conservation measures duringthe summer and throughout the year, theycould save more than 20 percent on their waterbill. Check your water bill to see how muchwater you are using and calculate how muchyou could be saving.Saves resourcesAugust average use:About 924 gallons perday for a family of fourWater is one of the most valuable resources ofall. But what can one individual – or a singlefamily – do to help? The answer is in thefollowing water-saving tips.You can saveoutdoorsOutdoor watering uses muchmore water than any otherhousehold activity. Individual water use nearlyquadruples during the summer. Roughly halfof the water used in Lakeville is used outdoors.Research suggests that much of the extra wateruse is wasted and that means wasted money. Hereare some easy ways for you to save water andmoney:• Adjust sprinklers so that only your lawn iswatered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.• Always water before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m.when temperatures are cooler, to minimizeevaporation.• Only water your lawn when it’s needed. Youcan tell this by simply walking across yourlawn. If you leave footprints, it’s time to water.• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting.Longer grass will reduce the loss of water toevaporation.• Even though you are allowed to water everyother day according to an odd/even schedule,it’s better to water about once a week andprovide about one inch of water. This willcreate healthier and stronger lawns. You canmeasure one inch by placing a tuna can aboutsix feet away from your sprinkler and waitingfor it to fill.• Water only as rapidly as the soil can absorbthe water. Water runoff is a huge waste.Save in yourkitchen• Run your dishwasherand washing machineonly when they are full.You could save 1,000 gallons a month.• If using a dishwasher, there is usually noneed to pre-rinse the dishes.• Soak your pots and pans instead of lettingthe water run while you scrape them clean.• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigeratorinstead of running the tap for cold drinks,then every drop of water goes down you,not the drain.• Don’t run water while you clean vegetables.Just rinse them in a pan or sink of cleanwater.Save in yourbathroom• When brushing yourteeth, never leave tapwater running. You’ll save four gallons aminute and about 200 gallons a week for afamily of four.• Check your toilet for leaks. Put a few dropsof food coloring in the tank. If it seeps intothe toilet bowl, you have a leak. Fix it andsave more than 600 gallons a month.• Avoid unnecessary toilet flushing. Flushingconsumes over 25 percent of the dailyhousehold consumption of water, usingabout 5-7 gallons per flush. Don’t use yourtoilet to flush away tissues, bugs, or otherdebris that can go in the trash instead.