Mid-Coast water providers are asking residents to develop and expand water conservation habits now to strengthen our communities’ resiliency in lower rainfall and drought years, which are expected to increase in frequency and severity with climate change. Water conservation also reduces the likelihood of restrictive water curtailment actions related to hot and dry weather conditions.
When we collectively conserve water, we reduce demand for water, increasing the reliability of our precious water sources and helping us stretch our currently available water supplies further. For these reasons, the Mid-Coast Water Conservation Consortium (MCWCC), a collaborative group of local water providers, is advising water users to take urgent action to conserve water—and to make these water-saving efforts a habit.
Recommended outdoor and indoor water conservation actions include:
- Irrigate first thing in the morning or at the end of the day to reduce water lost to evaporation.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your outdoor spaces.
- Replace hose washers at leaky hose connections—an inexpensive, simple fix.
- Use a multi-spray hose nozzle or watering can when watering by hand.
- Check for leaks in your irrigation system and repair any you find.
- Position your sprinklers so that they water your lawn, not the pavement.
- Set mower blades higher. Longer grass has deeper, stronger roots that retain soil moisture longer, reducing the amount of water needed.
- Go to commercial car washes that recycle or reuse water instead of washing your car at home.
- Run the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads only.
- Minimize your shower time and install a water-efficient showerhead.
- Turn off the faucet when you’re not actively using the water—such as brushing your teeth, scrubbing your dishes, etc.
- Add water-efficient faucet aerators to the faucets in your home.
- Scrape food off of plates instead of rinsing them.
- If you have an old toilet that uses more than 1.6 gallons per flush, add a toilet tank water displacement bag to the tank to reduce water use per flush or upgrade to a water-efficient toilet.
- Check with your water provider about the availability of free water conservation items.
A reliable water supply is vital for the community, economy, and environment. Together, our water conservation habits will help improve the reliability of our water supply. If you have any questions, contact your local water provider. Contact information can be found on your water bill.