No Water Doubts During Summer Days’ Droughts

The days are getting longer, the temperature is rising and the flip-flops are hitting the pavement again! Summer 2013 is on its way, and while there are many positives that come along with the change in season – vacations, beach days, an excuse to eat ice cream for dinner, etc. – one negative is the threat of drought. Last year’s summer broke drought records and has already had a negative cumulative impact on this year, which experts are predicting could be even worse.

While we may not have control over Mother Nature, there are some things we can do to be more conscious of wise water use during this critical time. So before you pack up for vacation or throw the burgers on the grill, take a look at these simple ideas to keep water saving in mind this summer:

• When it comes to sprinklers, don’t just set it and forget it. Only water your lawn when it really needs it. If you walk on the grass and it springs back, then you don’t need to water it, but if you leave footprints, it’s time to water.
• When you do water the lawn, make sure to do so in the morning. As much as 30 percent of water can be lost due to mid-day evaporation.
• Set your lawn mower one notch higher to make your grass more drought-tolerant.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your sidewalk, driveway or patio.
• Wash your car with a bucket and sponge, which uses only a few gallons to do the job. A hose left running can waste as much as six gallons per minute.

Drought season is an obvious time to take wise water use into account, but don’t stop there. There are other things you can do all year long to not only reduce your water consumption, but also reduce your monthly bill. It’s a win-win situation for the planet and your wallet!