|
Water
conservation is an important step to manage our water supply and stretch
it through the dry season. Water use during the peak of summer
often doubles or triples as the temperatures heat up. The heavy
demand for water comes at the same time there is the least additional
water supply available.
Water conservation is also required by Washington State Department of
Health through the adoption of the Water Use Efficiency Rule. WAC
246-290-100(4). This rule required water utilities to set goals for
water efficiency and to report on the status of achieving the goals each
year by July 1st. In Redmond, we publish the program results in
our Water
Quality Report.
WASHER REBATES
Rebates from $50 to $100 are available for qualifying models of
efficient clothes washers that use 40% less water and energy. A list
of qualifying models and a rebate application for Redmond water
utility customers is available
here.
Clothes washers usually last 10 or more years, so this is an
opportunity not to be missed. Our energy partner Puget Power at
www.pse.com has several other appliance
rebates.
TOILET REBATES
Cascade offers free toilets and $80 rebates to commercial and
multi-family accounts for the replacement of tank-style toilets. Rebates
of $120 are available for the installation of waterless urinals. Toilet
rebate application form and information on testing of popular toilet
models can be found on the
Cascade Water Alliance page.
IRRIGATION REBATES
Outdoor water saving rebates are available through
Cascade Water for irrigation controller system upgrades and the
installation of rain sensors for residential, multi-family, or
commercial irrigation systems.
Check out King County's website
Yard Talk: Dirt Simple Tips for Natural Yard Care. Lots of
ideas and suggestions on how to create and maintain a natural yard of
your own!
Outdoors – Become a Weather Watcher!
Adjust your irrigation system according to the weather. Water
before 10:00 AM or after 7:00 PM to reduce evaporation and interference
from wind. And, never water when it’s raining!
Estimated savings: 20-25 gallons per day
Don’t overwater!
For in-ground irrigation system owners, reduce cycles by 1-3 minutes, or
eliminate one irrigation cycle per week.
Estimated savings: 15-25 gallons each minute or up to 250 gallons
per cycle
Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and run-off.
Estimated savings: 15-25 gallons per day
Run your irrigation system all the way through its cycles when you
can observe it. Then repair leaks and broken sprinkler heads.
Estimated savings: 20 gallons per day per week
(Don’t forget there are rebates for upgraded ET controllers and rain
sensors through Cascade Water
www.cascadewater.org.)
For all gardeners!
Add 2 – 3 inches of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation.
Estimated savings: 20-30 gallons per day per 1,000 sq. ft.
OTHER OUTDOOR SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and walkways.
Estimated savings: 8-18 gallons per minute
Repair any leaks around pool and spa pumps.
Estimated savings: 20 gallons per day, per leak
Repair leaking hose bibs.
Estimated savings: 15-20 gallons per day, per leak
(Note: For information on water wasted due to leaks, visit the
Water Wiser Drip Calculator.)
INDOOR WATER SAVING OPPORTUNITIES
Run the dishwasher only when full.
Estimated savings: 2 – 4.5 gallons per load
Replace older, inefficient clothes washers. (Rebates for
qualifying machines are still available through Cascade Water Alliance.)
Estimated savings: 15 – 30 gallons per load
Take shorter showers. For a free shower timer call 425-556-2845.
Estimated savings: 2.5 gallons per minute
A frequently asked question 'How does my water use compare to my
neighbor’s?' requires that a number of variables be considered
such as number of people in the house, age of appliances, long or short
showers, a lot of outdoor use or not, or are the folks even at home
during parts of the year.
To get an idea of how much water you use, you can go to
http://www.h2ouse.org/ to calculate
what you use, and to think about ways you can save.
|
