Why should we conserve water?

There are many reasons to conserve water.  Some do it to reduce their water bill, sometimes a local drought reduces the water available to consumers, or many times people reduce water consumption to live "green."  Whatever the reason, using water wisely makes sense.

Tips & Tricks

Water Conservation in the Home

• Use your water meter to check for leaks in your home.  Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the test.  Take a reading on your water meter, wait for about 30 minutes, then take a second reading.  If the dial has moved, you have a leak.
• Check toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank.  If after 15 minutes the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
• Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor water use.  Older toilets (installed prior to 1994) use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. Installing a new model can save the typical household 7,900 to 2,100 gallons of water per year.
• Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow fixtures. Take shorter showers (a four minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water).
• Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush and use a glass of water for rinsing.
• When washing dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
• Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the water from a faucet until it cools off.

Major Appliances

• Only run dishwashers when full.  Reduce the amount of rinsing you do before loading.  Most modern dishwashers require little pre-rinsing.
• Wait until you have a full load of laundry before running the washing machine.  If you can't wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.
• When in the market for appliances, consider high efficiency or water-saver models that will use an average of 30% less water and 40% - 50% less energy.

Water Conservation in the Yard

• Plant drought-resistance lawns, shrubs and plants.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow evaporation and discourage weed growth.
• Install a drip irrigation system for watering gardens, trees and shrubs.  Drip irrigation provides a slow, steady trickle of water to plants at their roots through hidden pipes or hoses.
• Position sprinklers so that the water lands on the lawn or garden and not paved areas.
• Water your lawn per the Saint John’s River Management District guidelines.  Adjust sprinkler system controls for seasonal water demands. 
• Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings.
• Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket and a hose with an auto-turn-off nozzle.
• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
• Cover your spa or pool to reduce evaporation.  An average size pool left uncovered can lose as much as 1,000 gallons of water per month.

City Water Conservation Initiatives

• Reclaimed Water Project.  Follow construction progress here.
• Meter Exchange Program – The Utility Department schedules the replacement of older water meters to provide for better water conservation and consistently accurate readings.
• The City adopted a Landscape Irrigation Ordinance that meets or exceeds Saint John’s River Water Management District requirements
• Periodic leak detection checks in the water distribution system including lines, valves and hydrants.

Related Links:

• St. Johns River Water Management District