LEVEL 3 CRITICAL DROUGHT PLEASE CONSERVE WATER

“Even with winter weather, several regions in our state are facing below-average precipitation,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “To avoid overtaxing our water systems, we must prioritize indoor water conservation. It’s essential that everyone follows state guidance and local water restrictions to ensure our drinking water stays available for everyone.” 

Change your water habits

showerhead

It takes only a shift in mindset to change your water habits.

In the Bathroom

  • Don’t run the water while you’re brushing your teeth.  Wet your toothbrush and then turn the faucet off until you’re ready to rinse. 
  • Don’t run the water while you’re shaving, either.  Fill a small glass with water and just rinse your razor as needed

Extra measures during droughts and dry spells

  • If it takes awhile for your shower to warm up, put a bucket in to catch the water before you get in.  Then use that water for house plants, cleaning floors or hand-washing sweaters or delicates.

In the Kitchen

  • Instead of letting the water run while washing veggies and fruits, just fill a bowl, dunk them in and wipe them dryfruit salad
  • Hand-washing the dishes uses more water than a dishwasher.  If you do hand-wash, don’t run the water – fill a large bowl, add water and wash your plates and utensils.  Then dump the bowl and fill it with clean water to give them a quick rinse.
  • If you use a dishwasher, wait until it’s full before you run it.
  • Chill a pitcher or bottle of water in the fridge instead of letting the water run until it gets cold each time you need a drink.

In the laundry room

washing machine

Wait until you have a full load of laundry.  Don’t wash just a pair of jeans or just a couple of shirts.

Set the load setting (small, medium, large) to match the amount of laundry you’re putting in. 

The average American family washes about 300 loads of