Direct users to adopt the following conservation measures:
INDOOR RESIDENTIAL USE:
CONSERVATION FOR VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION PHASES:
• Use dishwashers only when they are full. Washing dishes by hand (don’t let the tap run!) Saves about 25 gallons.
• Adjust water level on clothes washing machines, if possible. Use full load only, if not adjustable.
• Turn off faucets while brushing teeth, etc. Saves about 5 gallons per day.
• Reduce water used per flush by installing toilet tank displacement inserts. A plastic jug may often be used as an alternative. DO NOT USE BRICKS - they disintegrate when soaked and the resulting grit hinders closing of the flap valve.
• Do not use the toilet as a trash can.
• Use sink and tub stoppers to avoid wasting water.
• Keep a bottle of chilled water in the refrigerator for drinking.
• Find and fix leaks in faucets and water-using appliances. Faucets can usually be fixed cheaply and quickly by replacing washers.
• Learn to read your water meter so you can judge how much water you use and what difference conservation makes.
• Take shorter showers and shallow baths. Saves about 25 gallons.
• Reduce the number of toilet flushes per day. Each flush uses about 5 gallons (2-3 if you have water saving toilets).
• Don’t use a garbage disposal.
• Use non-phosphate detergent and save laundry water for lawns and plants.
CONSERVATION FOR EMERGENCY CONSERVATION OR RATIONING PHASE (in addition to measures listed above):
• Turn off shower while soaping up.
• Use disposable eating utensils.
OUTDOOR RESIDENTIAL USE
CONSERVATION FOR NORMAL CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION PHASE:
Lawns:
• Water before 10:00 a.m. to prevent evaporation that occurs during the hottest part of the day. Morning is better than evening, when the dampness encourages growth of fungus.
• Water only when lawn shows signs of wilt. Grass that springs back when stepped on does not need water.
• Water thoroughly, not frequently: long enough to soak roots. A light sprinkling evaporates quickly and encourages shallow root systems. Water slowly to avoid runoff.
• Don’t let the sprinkler run any longer than necessary. In an hour, 600 gallons can be wasted.
• Allow maximum of one inch of water per week on your lawn. To measure, place cake tins outside to collect rain and water from sprinklers.
• Use pistol-grip nozzles on hoses to avoid waste when watering flowers and shrubs.
• Aerate lawns by punching holes 6 inches apart. This allows water to reach roots rather than run off surfaces.
• Position sprinklers to water the lawn, not the pavement.
• Avoid watering on windy days when the wind not only blows water off target, but also causes excess evaporation.
• Keep sprinkler heads clean to prevent uneven watering.
• Adjust hose to simulate gentle rain. Sprinklers that produce a fine mist waste water through evaporation.
• Know how to turn off an automatic sprinkler system in case of rain.
• Use an alarm clock or stove timer to remind you to shut off sprinklers that don’t have timers.
Vegetables and Flower Gardens:
• Water deeply, slowly and weekly. Most vegetables require moisture to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
• Keep soil loose so water can penetrate easily.
• Keep weeds out to reduce competition for water.
• Put the water where you want it and avoid evaporation by using soil-soakers or slow running hoses, not sprinklers.
Trees and Shrubs:
• Water deeply using a soil-soaker or drip-irrigation.
• Water only when needed. Check the depth of soil dryness by digging with a trowel.
• Mulch to reduce evaporation. A 2" to 3" layer of wood chips, pine needles, grass clippings or straw keeps the soil cool in summer.
• Dig troughs around plants to catch and retain water.
• Water trees growing in full sun more often than those in shade.
• Do not use sprinklers. Apply water directly at base.
• Do not fertilize during the summer. Fertilizing increases a plant’s need for water.
• Postpone planting until fall or spring when there is generally less need for water.
• Install trickle-drip irrigation systems close to the roots of your plants. By dripping water slowly, the system doesn’t spray water in to the air. Use soil probes for large trees.
• Water when cloudy, at night or even when a light rain is falling.
OUTDOOR RESIDENTIAL USE CONSERVATION FOR VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION PHASE (in addition to measures listed above):
• Do not allow children to play with hose or sprinklers.
• Limit car washing.
• Be ready to catch rainfall that occurs. Place containers under drain sprouts.
• Use leftover household water if available.
• Consider delaying the seeding or sodding of new lawns.
• Determine the amount of water being used outdoors by comparing water bills for summer and winter.
CONSERVATION FOR MANDATORY CONSERVATION PHASE (In addition to measures listed above):
• Vegetable gardens and food trees should be given minimal amounts of water on an individual basis only.
• Do not water lawns and inedible plants.
• Do not use sprinklers.
Most outdoor watering is prohibited under Emergency Conservation conditions.
HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE FACILITY USE:
• Reduce laundry usage or services by changing the linens, etc. only when necessary to preserve the health of patients or residents.
• Use disposable food service items.
• Eliminate, postpone, or reduce, as they may be appropriate, elective surgical procedures during the period of emergency.
INDUSTRIAL USE
• Identify and repair all leaky fixtures and water-using equipment. Give special attention to equipment connected directly to waterlines, such as processing machines, steam-using machines, washing machines, water-cooled air conditioners and furnaces.
• Assure that valves and solenoids that control water flows are shut off completely when the water-using cycle is not engaged.
• Adjust water-using equipment to use the minimum amount of water required to achieve its stated purpose.
• Shorten rinse cycles for laundry machines as much as possible; implement lower water levels wherever possible.
• For processing, cooling, and other uses, either re-use water or use water from sources that would not adversely affect public water supplies.
• Advise employees, students, patients, customers, and other users not to flush toilets unnecessarily. Install toilet tank displacement inserts; place flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets; close down automatic flushes overnight.
• Install automatic flushing valves to use as little water as possible or to cycle at longer intervals.
• Place water-saving posters and literature where employees, students, patients, customers’, etc. will have access to them.
• Check meters on a frequent basis to determine consumptive patterns.
• Review usage patterns to see where other savings can be made.
(Ord. passed - -2007)