The current period of drought and high temperatures has resulted in public water
systems in the state experiencing very high water demands. In many cases,
public water systems have had to request that their customers observe water
conservation measures such as lawn watering on alternating days, etc. The
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is urging compliance with water
conservation requests made by public water systems during these summertime peak
water demand periods.
According to
Jeff Stone, director of the Engineering section at ADH, compliance will help to
ensure that the public water systems will be able to meet the needs for vital
purposes such as drinking water and fire protection. “Wise use of water by individual customers can make a
dramatic difference in whether shortages are experienced,” Stone said.
The following is a list of
water saving measures for homeowners to cut water usage.
• Water your lawn only when it needs it. Deep soak the lawn rather than sprinkling lightly which tends to evaporate quickly.
• Water during the cool part of the day such as early morning.
• Don’t waste water on gutters, driveways, and sidewalks.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will hold moisture longer and slow evaporation.
• Use automatic dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
• Don’t let the faucet run when cleaning vegetables or washing dishes. Rinse them in a stoppered sink or pan of clean water.
• Don’t let the water continuously run when brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running tap water to cool it off for drinking is wasteful.
• Check faucets, pipes, and toilets for drips or leaks.
• Use a broom to clean sidewalks—not a hose.
• Take a quick shower instead of a big bath. Install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors.
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