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If you had to pay for water at bottled water prices, how much water would you use? Here in the Quad Cities, the average person uses 150-250 gallons of water per day. The cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland (the “Quad-Cities”) and the Benton-Franklin Health District have joined together to provide water conservation information and education throughout Benton and Franklin Counties. Our goal is to educate our citizens on the value of water conservation. Water conservation isn’t just about using less water, it is about using water efficiently. Each City is working to use its water supply more efficiently and at the same time, saving water to meet tomorrow’s needs. Education A variety of fun, hands-on lessons are available to the public and to school classrooms. There is no charge for any of these lessons and all the supplies for the activities are provided. To schedule or find out more about these lessons, call 460-4318 or check out our web site at http://www.bfhd.wa.gov/edu/water.php. Along with your water bill, your electricity bill can also decrease since it is tied in part to water consumption through your hot water tank and irrigation system. You can find out how much water your home uses by checking your utility bill or calling your city water utility department. Conservation n. an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or injury or other change. v. to use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste. Did You Know? Conservation doesn’t mean sacrifice. You can still use water, however, you can make better choices about how it is used. Economize Look at the water habits you have developed over a lifetime. A lot of water goes down the drain because we have always thought of water as being plentiful and cheap. Start by becoming conscious of the amount of water you use, and look for ways to use less whenever you can. Repair Leaks Even the smallest of leaks waste water. Finding and repairing leaks is the easiest way to conserve water. Install Water Saving Devices There are many devices you can install fairly easily to reduce the amount of water you use. These include faucet aerators; flow regulators for shower heads; and displacement devices for toilets. Reuse Water Unused or used water (rinse water from cooking) can be used for other purposes (watering house plants). Make the most of any water before you let it go down the drain. On average, 50% - 70% of household water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens. Water Topics •Water Conservation •Drinking Water Treatment •Waste Water Treatment •Ground Water •Enviroscape ---PAGE BREAK--- Water Conservation www.bfhd.wa.gov Water Guardians It’s important that we each do our part to use water wisely. Water is a limited resource that we must manage carefully to ensure adequate quantities for growing human and environmental needs. Only one percent of the world’s water supply is available fresh water; the rest is saltwater, ice caps, and glaciers. And there are plenty of competing demands for that one percent, including domestic, business, industry, agriculture, and environmental uses. With so much demand, and so little supply, it’s crucial that we guard our water resources. Want more conservation tips? Check out these web sites: Benton Franklin Health District: www. bfhd.wa.gov Water, Use it Wisely: www.wateruseitwise EPA: www.epa.gov/watersense City of Kennewick: www.ci.kennewick. wa.us/Municipal_Services/Water_Conser vation.asp City of Richland: www.ci.richland.wa.us/ Richland/enviro City of West Richland: www.westrichland. org City of Pasco: www.pasco-wa.gov Outdoor Tips Turn off sprinklers on wet and windy day. Use a broom to sweep off the driveway instead of a hose. Adjust the sprinkler so you are not watering the sidewalks or driveways. Plant native and drought tolerant plants. Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter. Water your lawn every second or third day. Indoor Tips Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving. Check your home for water leaks and repair them. Take shorter showers. Don’t use the toilet as a trash can. Wash full loads of laundry and dishes. Store drinking water in the refrigerator for a cool glass of water.