Tips for the Trade #6. Wire rope lubrication: why, how often and how much. 11 Tips for the Trade #11. How light curtains improve safety and performance. 21 …
CONSERVATION
Outdoor
With water conservation efforts under way in parts of Oklahoma, here are some water conservation tips from the Department of Environmental Quality Water piped for residential use often goes toward the care of lawns and gardens As more water is used outdoors, more water is wasted Yet it is possible to conserve water and still maintain a healthy lawn
Dont water the gutter Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas Plant drought resistant trees, plants, and lawn grass Many beautiful trees and plants thrive with far less watering than other species Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants Mulch will slow the evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth Do not permit children to play with the hose or sprinkler Do not use a constant stream of water when washing the car Wash from a bucket of soapy water, using the hose only to rinse Wash less frequently during dry, hot weather Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways
Conservation Tips For
Kitchens and Laundry Bathroom Outdoors
OUTDOOR TIPS
Check for leaks in outdoor faucets, pipes and hoses Even slight drips can add up to many gallons of wasted water Water your
lawn only when it needs it A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass If it springs back up when you move, it doesnt need water If it stays flat, it needs water Avoid watering on windy days Wind will carry water away from its intended area Water during the coolest part of the day, generally early morning, to avoid excess evaporation and to help prevent the growth of fungus Deep-soak your lawn when you do water Give the grass ample moisture to penetrate down to the roots where it will do the most good
For further information visit us on the web at wwwdeqstateokus For program-specific questions, please contact the Water Quality Division Main Telephone Number: 405/702-8100 Customer Service Hotline: 1-800-8691400 open 24hrs By-Pass Hotline: 1-800-256-2365 open 24/7 for all incident reporting
CONSERVATION
Kitchens and Laundry
With water conservation efforts under way in parts of Oklahoma, here are a few water conservation tips from the Department of Environmental Quality Water is a valuable, fundamental resource that should not be wasted Eventually it will recycle itself, but the clean water used in homes has limitations If each person uses only what is
needed, the natural water supply will always be adequate
Reduce the use of the garbage disposal, which requires a great deal of water for operation Dispose of food scraps and peelings in the trash container or use food waste in a garden compost pile Install flow restrictors in faucets Keep faucet washers in good shape or use washerless faucets
CONSERVATION
For the Bathroom
With water conservation efforts under way in parts of Oklahoma, here are a few water conservation tips from the Department of Environmental Quality The most substantial reduction in personal water use can be made in the bathroom Twothirds of the water used in the average home is used in the bathroom, because many people take long showers or flush the toilet unnecessarily Water conservation not only saves water, it saves energy used to heat the water Check the toilet for leaks Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you know you have a leak that needs to be repaired Dont use the toilet for disposing of cigarette butts or other trash Use the garbage can Every flush uses five to seven gallons of water
KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY TIPS
Use your
automatic dishwasher and automatic washing machine only for full loads, never for just a few items If you wash dishes by hand, dont leave the water running continuously for rinsing Fill one side of the sink with clean water for rinsing, or put the washed dishes in a rack and rinse them all at once with a spray attachment or a pan of hot water Dont let the faucet run while you clean vegetables Fill the sink or a pan with clean water to rinse Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator Running the tap to cool the water for drinking is wasteful and the refrigerator water will be colder and more refreshing Check faucets and pipes for leaks Even a small leak can waste thousands of gallons of water each year Re-use the water that vegetables are washed in for watering house plants or for cleaning
To cut down on water used with each flush, put plastic bottles filled with sand in your toilet tank Place them safely away from the operating mechanism Do not use bricks, which disintegrate after a while and damage the mechanism When replacing fixtures, install water conserving models The price is about the same Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors Your local hardware or
plumbing supply stores stock inexpensive water-saving shower heads or restrictors that are easy to install Limit the length of showers to two or three minutes Consider turning the shower off while you soap up and turn it on again only to rinse Rinse your razor in a few inches of water in the sink, rather than under running water Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth Use only enough water to wet the brush and rinse your mouth Teach children to turn faucets off tightly after use Check faucets and pipes for leaks Even a small leak can waste thousands of gallons per month Keep faucet washers in good shape or use washerless faucets
This publication is issued by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, as authorized by Steven A Thompson, Executive Director 300 copies have been produced at a cost of 0028 each Copies have been deposited with the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Printed on recycled content paper M:\CSD\Denise\Graphic assistant\3n1\water3n1pmd 10/2004
Source:asma.org
