While the Washington County Water Conservancy District seeks to repair a pipeline collapse in the district’s main line, a request for local residents to help conserve water remains in force.
Delivery of water to the district’s municipal partners will continue due to storage in reservoirs, but the pipeline collapse will prevent the district from collecting water to replenish the reservoirs until needed repairs are made.
While most water is consumed by agriculture and for municipal and industrial uses, there are still things local citizens can do to conserve water:
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• It is winter, there is no need to water lawns or gardens right now.
• If doing winter gardening or landscaping choose water wise plants, use less turf or xeriscape and use water efficient, timed, drip irrigation.
• Make sure to run full loads of laundry and adjust your washer to the right load size.
• Do not using running hot water to defrost food, stick it in the microwave.
• Showers use less water than baths, so if you have the choice, shower.
• Dishwashers actually use less water than hand washing, so make sure the dishwasher is full and use it if you have one.
• Scrape food into the trash rather than rinsing dishes off in the sink.
• Check for and repair any water leaks on faucets, showerheads, toilets and pipes.
• If you have a swimming pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator to keep it cool rather than letting the faucet run until the water gets cold.
• Don’t leave water running.
“Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air and drink the water. Don’t sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.” – Carl Sagan
Written by Greta Hyland
Cami Cox contributed to this article
