During periods of extreme drought, Powdersville Water may ask you, in compliance with our Drought Policy, to restrict your water usage. Here are some suggestions to help you reduce your water consumption.

• Water your lawn only when it needs it. If you have an automatic sprinkler system,  turn it on and off when you need it. A good soaking (rather than frequent short cycle watering) encourages good root growth for all lawns. Water your lawn in the early morning hours when it is cool.
• Reduce the washing down of sidewalks, walkways, roads, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts and other hard surfaced areas.
• Reduce the washing down of buildings for purposes other than immediate fire protection.
• Reduce the flushing of gutters.
• Reduce the domestic washing of motorbikes, boats, cars, etc.
• Reduce the use of water to maintain fountains, reflection ponds and decorative water bodies for aesthetic or scenic purposes, except where necessary to support aquatic life.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you and not the drain.
• Automatic dishwashers use more water than any other kitchen appliance – about 12 gallons per run. To use this water efficiently, make sure the dishwasher is full before turning it on.
• Washing dishes by hand? Don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• Washing fruits and vegetables? Don’t run water; partially fill the sink or a pan and give the used water to your house plants.
• Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
• Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1000 gallons a month!
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
• Turn the water off while you shave and you can save more than a 100 gallons a week.
• Always adjust the water level in your washer to the size of the laundry load. Typically, full loads use less total water.
• Leaking faucets, toilets and connecting hoses can waste up to 170 gallons per day.
• Toilets use the most water inside the house, about 27 gallons per person per day. To detect slow leaks in a toilet, add several drops of dark food coloring into the toilet’s water tank. If the water in the bowl is tinted after fifteen minutes, your toilet is leaking. If so, all it usually needs is a new toilet flapper, an easy and inexpensive repair job.

Water is a precious commodity, and there’s limited supply in some communities. Remember to use only the amount you actually need. Encourage your family to keep looking for ways to conserve water in and around your home.