Water
Although 75% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 0.6% of it is fresh water that is availableto humans. In Florida, our water comes from a giant underground river called the Floridan Aquifer. Our everyday activities can drastically effect this water and, ultimately, our health, Florida is number 2 for for water consumption in the US. In north-central Florida, the average per-person use of water is about 150 gallons per day. That's almost double the national average, andmore than half of that is used for landscapes and lawns!
Water conservation quick tips:
- Make sure faucets are turned off all the way and repair leaky faucets and pipes. A leaky faucet can waste anywhere from 5 to 30 gallons of water per day.
- In laboratories, use re-circulating pumps rather than one pass water cooling
- Choose drought tolerant plants for your landscapes and create a beautiful, Florida Friendly yard.
- Use irrigation only when necessary, and install a soil moisture sensor for your irrigation system. More than half of water use in Florida goes to landscapes.
- Verify your home is leak free - read your water meter before and after a one-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak somewhere.
- Check the toilet tanks - add a few drops of food coloring into the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the water in the bowl within 30 minutes.
- Operate dishwasher and washing machine only when fully loaded.
- Connect a shut-off nozzle to your hose.
- Use a broom and dustpan to clean debris off the patio, sidewalk and driveway instead of a hose.
- Calculate how much water you use
- Become an informed citizen - report all significant water losses (broken pipes, errant sprinklers, open hydrants, etc).
Water-saving devices for your home
There are many devices that can be installed in your home to reduce the amount of water that is used. Some of them can be self-installed, others need professional installation.
Toilets are one of the greatest water users in the home. Low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush and can reduce water use by 23-46%, compared to conventional models that use 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush.
With an investment of $20 or less on a low-flow shower head, you can save $50 to $75 per year on water bills and $20 to $50 or more per year on energy bills (depending on your current showerhead and utility rates).
For More Information:
St. Johns River Water Management District will keep you up to date on the current Water Restrictions for our area.
EDIS is the searchable Electronic Data Information Source of UF/IFAS Extension, a collection of information on topics relevant to sustainability. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/index.html
GRU also has lots of tips for saving water. http://www.gru.com/YourHome/Conservation/Water/waterSavers.jsp
The 2008 Common Reading Program book is When the Rivers Run Dry- Water: the defining crisis of the twenty first century. To find out about events and information related to this book, visit http://www.dso.ufl.edu/nsp/firstyearexperience/commonread/
