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WATER CONSERVATION
Despite near normal
rainfall the past few months north Georgia & GIHA
remains in an "Extreme" drought area. The eight wells in
GIHA are providing water for our community but good
water conservation practices are still called for.
Remember: "WATER-SAVING DEVICE # 1" is YOU! Please keep
practicing water conservation including:
NO watering of lawns or grassy areas!
NO car washing!
RE-USE water wherever possible!
Here's a long list of water saving habits/practices from
the "WATER USE IT WISELY" website. Please read &
implement as many as you can in your daily use of GIHA
well water.
Tips for the Southeast
#2. When washing dishes by hand, don't let the
water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water
and the other with rinse water.
#5. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when
they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.
#8. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead
and save gallons every time.
#10. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead
of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop
goes down you not the drain.
#14. Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to
reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water
a year.
#15. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your
driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every
time.
#16. If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less
than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient
showerhead.
#17. Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and
reuse it to water houseplants.
#19. We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors,
but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and
hoses for leaks.
#23. Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll
save up to 1000 gallons a month.
#24. Install low-volume toilets.
#26. When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've
drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen
and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective
fertilizer.
#28. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps
into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix,
and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
#29. Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then
adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
#30. Use porous materials for walkways and patios to
keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
#31. Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs
and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
#32. Designate one glass for your drinking water each
day. This will cut down on the number of times you run
your dishwasher.
#35. Don't use running water to thaw food.
#37. Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's
simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week.
#39. When doing laundry, match the water level to the
size of the load.
#42. Before you lather up, install a low-flow
showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and
can save your family more than 500 gallons a week.
#43. Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the
water run while you scrape them clean.
#46. Make sure you know where your master water shut-off
valve is located. This could save gallons of water and
damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
#51. Avoid installing ornamental water features and
fountains that spray water into the air. Trickling or
cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation.
#52. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
#53. Don't buy recreational water toys that require a
constant flow of water.
#54. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and
save 4 gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a
family of four.
#59. Make sure your toilet flapper doesn't stick open
after flushing.
#60. Make sure there are aerators on all of your
faucets.
#61. Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub,
choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape
color and save up to 550 gallons each year.
#62. Install an instant water heater on your kitchen
sink so you don't have to let the water run while it
heats up. This will also reduce heating costs for your
household.
#64. Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new.
Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
#67. Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if
savings are small, every drop counts.
#73. Insulate hot water pipes so you don't have to run
as much water to get hot water to the faucet.
#75. Drop that tissue in the trash instead of flushing
it and save gallons every time.
#82. Install water softening systems only when
necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum
number of regenerations necessary to maintain water
softness.
#83. Wash clothes only when you have a full load and
save up to 600 gallons each month.
#87. Start a compost pile. Using compost when you plant
adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
#89. Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that flush
themselves. Fixing a leak can save 500 gallons
each month.
#91. Cook food in as little water as possible. This will
also retain more of the nutrients.
#93. Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition
your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week.
#94. Bathe your pets outdoors in an area in need of
water.
#95. Choose new water-saving appliances, like washing
machines that save up to 20 gallons per load.
#98. Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans
require more cooking water than may be necessary.
#100. Turn off the water while you shave and you can
save more than 100 gallons a week.
#101. When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw
the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees
or shrubs.
#102. If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling
your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the
sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
#103. To save water and time, consider washing your face
or brushing your teeth while in the shower.
#106. For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice
cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool
drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.
#107. Throw trimmings and peelings from fruits and
vegetables into your yard compost to prevent from using
the garbage disposal.
#108. When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out
restaurant, don't throw it in the trash, dump it on a
plant.
#109. Have your plumber re-route your gray water to
trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the
sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn't
allowed in your area, start a movement to get that
changed.
#110. Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it
warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or
water plants.
#111. When you are washing your hands, don't let the
water run while you lather.
Check the WATER USE IT WISELY website for other saving
tips & for "Rain Barrels" installed to collect rain
water for use in plant/yard watering.
Your GIHA Board & Well/Water committee appreciates your
efforts to save our water.
Bob Morgan,
for the Well/water Committee
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