Conserving water: You can help

  • Published
  • By Gilbert Walker
  • 325th Civil Engineer Squadron
Everyone in Bay County, whether on-base or off, can help out the whole community by conserving water. 

Monthly review and comparison of water consumption to previous years shows the county has increased it monthly consumption in 2006. 

Water conservation needs to be done on a constant basis. Water may be a renewable resource to a certain extent, but the Earth must do most of the recycling. 

Practicing conservation all the timehelps it become second nature and less of a strain when it does become critical. Conserving also helps keep the reserves high for critical times when needed. 

Here are some tips to reduce water consumption. 

Indoors:
· Constantly check toilets, faucets and showers for leaks.
· Take five minute showers.
· Use low flow fixtures.
· Keep the faucet off while not immediatley using the water, such as while brushing teeth.
· Only run the dishwasher and washing machine with a full load.
Outdoors:
· Only water the lawn early in the morning or late evening only three times a week. This encourages deeper root growth making the grass more drought resistant.
· Install moisture sensors on automatic irrigation systems.
· Clean walkways, driveways and patios with a broom instead of a hose.
· Grass should be kept about two inches long to hold moisture and shade roots.
· Try water-wise landscaping. 

Using these tips will assist the environment by easing the burden to clean water. This practice also saves drinking water supplies for people and water for the other inhabitants of the planet like fish and animals. It also helps to save the energy and money that would have been used to treat the water. 

Water is vital to all life on earth, for this and future generations.
For more information or to report any leaks, call 283-4949.