Earth Month Tip #2- Use Water Wisely

From the City of Seattle
Earth Day April 22, 2007

Earth Month serves to remind us that we need to continue to take daily steps to keep our city and our planet healthy and environmentally sustainable. Seattle Public Utilities offers the following tips to use water wisely:

1. Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Research has shown that an average of 8 percent (or more) of all home water use is wasted through leaks. Even a small, silent leak can easily waste $50 per year in water and sewer costs. Large leaks can waste much more. Find out how to fix leaks at the Saving Water Partnership.
2. Be WashWise! Upgrade to a water-saving WashWise clothes washer and be eligible for $50 to $100 rebate. Talk to your local appliance dealer or call the WashWise hotline- 1-866-632-4636.
3. Be a FlushStar®! Replacing old toilets with FlushStar® models in your home can save you $50 to $125 and up to 10,500 gallons of water each year. Visit the Saving Water Partnership or call (206) 684-4150 to learn more.
4. Wash only full loads of laundry. You’ll save water and energy!
5. Clean up in the shower! Install an efficient showerhead and you can save up to 3,000 gallons a year. To save even more, limit your shower time to 5 minutes or less.
6. Catch the rain! Rain barrels allow gardeners to collect Seattle’s famed rain for use in their yards. Get big discounts on rain barrels by purchasing Rain Barrels Online or by calling (206) 684-0190.
7. Compost and mulch. By mixing compost into your soil and mulching garden beds, you’ll build healthy soil which absorbs water easily, drains well and retains moisture while reducing evaporation. Take advantage of huge discounts on yard and food waste composting bins by purchasing Compost Bins Online or by calling (206) 684-0190.
8. Tune-up your irrigation system. Improving the efficiency of an automatic sprinkler system can reduce summer water bills by one-third while maintaining a healthy lawn and garden and you may be eligible for a rebate of up to $450. Call (206) 684-SAVE or visit the Saving Water Partnership to learn more.
9. Water deeply and less often. You’ll encourage deep roots and help to prevent disease. Let the top few inches of soil dry before watering again so roots and soil life can breathe.
10. Group plants by their water needs. Plants will be watered by the same sprinkler or irrigation zone and receive just the right amount of moisture. Lawns should be irrigated separately from other plants. Contact the Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline to learn more: (206) 633-0224 or e-mail info@lawnandgardenhotline.org

For a list of other great steps to make Seattle and Planet Earth a better place to live, visit the Green Seattle Guide.