New Homes & Lifestyles

Wet & Wise: Save Water Today

By Karen Young

Dive into spring the right way by saving water and money. The program “Water—Use it Wisely” can help with an interactive home water audit that is so user-friendly, the whole family can get in on the fun, while learning more about water conservation.

To get started, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com and click on the family water audit. Figure out how much water you’re using and commit to cutting back your water usage by 10 percent. Check out the helpful 12-monthWater Planner also at the site to help with tips for conserving water throughout the year.

The town of Gilbert Water Conservation office also offers free individualized home water audits to Gilbert residents. This service is offered to help homeowners manage their water demands and landscape irrigation. If you feel you could benefit from this service, call 480.503.6190 to schedule an audit.

Easy Tips
There are other ways to save water. For starters, here are some basic things every household can do to save water.

 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.
 Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1,000 gallons a month.
 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.
 Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
 Take the collected water from rinsing produce and water the houseplants. 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.
 Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
 Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
 Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk.

Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every drop counts.

For more water saving tips, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com. There, you can also sign up to receive a monthly water saving tip to remind you of your commitment and to keep you conserving all year long.

Karen Young is water conservation coordinator for the town of Gilbert, Ariz.

INFO LINK
Town of Gilbert
480.503.6892
ci.gilbert.az.us