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Health & Fitness

Saving Water Indoors is Good for the Environment…and Your Wallet!

By Dave Bracciano

Demand Management Coordinator

Tampa Bay Water

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We all know that saving water is important for the environment. But during times of low rainfall, saving water becomes even more important.

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In the Tampa Bay area, the dry season runs from March through late May-early June. But there are ways to save water in your home that will not only help you save water during these dry months, but could also result in seeing a savings in your water bill every month.

Here are some easy, water-saving tips for you to try in your home:

•  Check your toilet for a leaking flapper. A leaking flapper can waste up to 200 gallons per day.  Put some non-stainable dye in the tank and see if it comes into the bowl. If it does you need a new flapper.

•  If your home was built before 1995, consider adding EPA WaterSense labelled high efficiency toilets, faucets and showerheads to your home. They use at least 20% less than existing fixtures and they work great!

•  Old inefficient showerheads use up to 9 gallons/minute. Consider buying an EPA WaterSense labeled showerhead and reduce this use by up to 70% without sacrificing spray quality. 

•  Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when full. Scrape, but don’t rinse dishes before loading them into the washer. Purchase only Energy Star labelled washers.

•  Rather than defrosting frozen foods under running water, plan ahead and either defrost overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.

•  Don’t let the water run when brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your face. Run the tap only when necessary to rinse.

•  Consider brushing your teeth with the cold water coming out of the warm water tap until it gets warm- then switch to cold water. Use warm water for grooming purposes at this point.

•  Check all faucets and pipes indoors and out for leaks and fix them if necessary.

These are just a few ways you can save water in your home. For more easy, water-saving tips, click here.

 

About Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water supplies wholesale drinking water to Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. It supplies water to more than 2.3 million people through the governments it serves.

 

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