April: A Month Dedicated to Water

Article By: Joan Bradshaw
Director of the University of Florida /IFAS Citrus County Extension

As the old saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers" so no better time than the present to remind Citrus County residents about the importance of water. Water conservation has become such an important issue that the state Legislature has designated April as Water Conservation Month. In Florida, April is typically the time of year when water needs are most acute and temperatures begin to climb. Although Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall per year, 60 percent of that annual rainfall is from June through September.

While water resources in Citrus County may seem plentiful, we can no longer take water for granted! With the rapid residential, retail and commercial growth all over the county, the demand for water and the need to be more water-wise is more important than ever.

One stumbling block to efficient water use is that many people don't know how much water they really use. When surveyed, people estimated their daily household water usage as little as 10 gallons per person per day. In actuality Citrus County residential water usage is reported to be 221 gallons/person/day.

If you haven't thought about conserving water, now is a great time to start! No great sacrifices need to be made because a water-wise home employs subtle design features to collect and conserve water resources.

Here are some tips for saving water and using it more wisely.

• Stop Those Leaks! Check your indoor water using appliances and devices for leaks. Many silent leaks allow water and your money to go down the drain. To help detect unseen leaks use you water meter to gauge our water loss. Studies have shown homes can waste more than 10% due leaking, which costs both you and the environment.
• Use Florida-Friendly landscaping practices in your yard this spring. Most water is wasted in your landscape by watering when your plants do not need the water or by not maintaining the irrigation system. Be attentive if you are watering manually by setting your oven timer or some other reminder to move the water promptly. Make sure your irrigation controller has a rain shutoff device and that it's appropriately scheduled. Most water is wasted in months prior to or just after the rainy season when intermittent rains occur.
• Give your irrigation system a check up. Another large water waster can be leaks in your irrigation system. Fix irrigation system leaks quickly and check for water in the gutters or mud puddles. Inspect your sprinklers and drip sprayers regularly for leaks and check you controller to be sure you are in compliance with current water restrictions. If you have an older irrigation system, more than 50% can be lost to leaks and misdirected water not reaching your plants.
• Replace your old Toilet, the largest water user inside your home. If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is very likely that you do not have a water efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. You can check the date stamp inside the toilet by lifting the lid and looking at the back of the toilet at the manufacturer's imprint of the make, model and date of manufacture.
• Replace your Clothes Washer, the second largest water user in your home. Energy Star™ rated washers that also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5, use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. This saves you money on both your water and energy bills. Remember to only run your dishwasher and washing machines only when they are full.
• When washing a car, use soap and water from a bucket. Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for rinsing.
• Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
• Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom to clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Using a hose to clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water.
• Take short showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires about 36 gallons of water!
• Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth or shaving. Get in the habit of turning off the water when it's not being used.
• Use of bowl of water to clean fruits & vegetables rather than running water over them. You can reuse this for your house plants.

Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Avoid wasting water because it is our most precious resource. Do your part to save a drop!

For information on water conservation, please contact Citrus County Extension at 352-527-5700.

Citrus County Extension links the public with the University of Florida/IFAS’s knowledge, research, and resources to address youth, family, community, and agricultural needs”. Programs and activities offered by the Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, handicap, sex, religion, or national origin. Citrus County – Providing Solutions for Your Life.