Conservation

Check faucets, toilets, and pipes for leaks.

• A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.

Install water saving shower heads and low flow faucets. 
Don't use the toilet as a waste basket. Put trash in the waste bucket.

• Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue or other small bit of trash, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.

 Check your toilets for leaks.

• Shut off the water valve behind the toilet, take the tank lid off and mark the water level inside the tank.
• Don't let anyone use this restroom for several hours.
• If the water level has dropped either the flapper is leaking or there is a seal leak between the tank and the bowl.
• Must be done in all restrooms of property.

Put plastic bottles, partly filled with sand or water, in toilet tanks to use less water.

• Be sure at least 3 gallons of water stays in the tank so it will flush properly. If there is not enough water to get a proper flush, users will hold the lever down too long or do multiple flushes to get rid of the waste.
• Two flushings at 1.4 gallons is worse than a single 2.0 gallon flush.

Periodically check your water meter by turning off every item that uses water, get a reading, and then check it again in about an hour. If the reading has changed, more than likely you have a leak.
Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings.

• Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they're not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks indoors.
• Check often to keep them drip-free.

Insulate your water pipes.

• Weather patterns in this area are fairly predictable.  However, recent winters have provided temperatures that have been low enough to freeze water lines.
• You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.

A four-minute shower uses about 20 to 40 gallons of water. 
Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. 
Rinse your razor in the sink.

• Filling the sink with a few inches of water adequately rinses the razor with far less wasted water.

Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads

• Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for best water conservation.
• Most makers of dish-washing soap recommend not pre-rinsing dishes, which is a big water savings.
• With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse.
• For partial loads, adjust water levels to match the size of the load.
• New Energy Star rated washers use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load in comparison to old clothes washers.
• If you're in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving frontload washer.

Minimize use of kitchen sink garbage disposal units.

• In-sink 'garburators' require lots of water to use properly, and add considerably to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to maintenance problems.
• Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste.

When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing.

• If you have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. For a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a pan full of hot water.
• If using a dishwasher, there is usually no need to pre-rinse the dishes.

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge in a safe drinking bottle.

• Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful.

Don't run the hose while washing your car.

• Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the hose only for rinsing - this simple practice can save as much as 150 gallons when washing the car.

Use a broom and not a hose to clean your driveway.

Water conservation comes naturally when everyone in the family is aware of its importance, and parents should teach children some of the simple water-saving methods around the home which can make a big difference.

Please view the following brochures and links provided by the Northwest Florida Water Management District’s Public Information Office:  www.nwfwater.com/Water-Resources/Conservation

An Indoor Water Audit: Saving water could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Water audits – the process used to determine how much water you use – can help identify ways to save water. 
Florida-Friendly Landscaping: Learn to landscape and garden the Florida way - the smart way to grow! By following the principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping, you can conserve water, reduce fertilizer, use and still have a beautiful landscape. Visit www.floridayards.org to learn more. 
3 R's of Water: Reusing, recycling, or reclaiming water preserves our water resources. 
Fifty Ways to Save Water: How you can help reduce the amount of water you use each day. 
Xeriscape: A style of landscape design which requires little or no irrigation 
Water Use Calculator: The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Water Use Calculator allows you to estimate your water use each day and take a pledge to help conserve.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR BACKFLOW PREVENTION POLICY

FRUS Wellfield Protection Workshop Presentation
The Critical Importance of The Sand and Gravel Aquifer” November 4, 2022., Gary E. Eichler, P.G. Connect Consulting, Inc. Adapted/ Modified from a presentation originally presented by Scott Sigler, P.G.