EDUCATION
KIDS' CORNER
Links to kid friendly websites about water and water conservation.
Drought for Kids
Water Drops  (Requires Adobe Reader)
WATER CONSERVATION

Water Conservation is an important step in reducing water usage around the house
and saving it for future generations.  These tips are provided by the Environmental
Protection Service.  Please visit their website, www.epa.com for addition conservation
advice.

Be smart when irrigating your lawn or landscape.
  • Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day.  Early morning is best.
  • Water plants according to their water needs; you’ll have healthier plants and a
    lower water bill.
  • Set sprinklers to water lawns and gardens only— not the street or sidewalk.
  • Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for trees and shrubs.

Use your appliances wisely.
  • Wash only full loads or set small loads to appropriate water level.
  • Scrape rather than rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
  • Replace old clothes washers with ENERGY STAR qualified appliances that use
    less water.

Don’t flush your money down the drain/toilets.
  • A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day.  Check your toilet for leaks
    by adding food coloring to the tank.   If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the
    bowl within 15 minutes.  Look for worn out, corroded or bent parts in the leaky
    toilet. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily
    installed.  (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain the tank.)
  • When replacing your toilet, look for high-efficiency models that use less than 1.3
    gallons per flush.

Conserve around the house
  • Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until cool.  
    A running tap can use about 2 gallons of water per minute.
  • Try not to leave the tap running while you brush you teeth or shave.
  • Don’t pour water down the drain if you can use it for other projects such as
    watering a plant or cleaning.

Stop those leaks.
  • Verify that your home is leak-free.  Many homes have hidden water leaks that can
    waste more than 10 percent, costing both you and the environment.  Read your
    water meter before and after a two-hour period where no water is being used.  If
    the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.
  • Repair dripping faucets and showers.  If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one
    drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.  This waste will
    add to the cost of water and sewer utilities or strain your septic system.
PROTECTING GROUNDWATER QUALITY

  • Never store pesticide and herbicide containers near wells.
  • Inspect well head for surface deterioration and rodent burrows.  Repair well head
    surface when needed.
  • Make certain that check valves are installed and operating properly.  State law
    requires the installation of check values when injecting chemicals.
  • When using a well for filling chemical or herbicide tanks, make certain the supply
    line is downstream of check valves.  This prevents any contamination from
    potential back-siphoning.
  • Do not leave wells uncovered.  By law, open wells must be capped.  Report
    uncovered wells to the District.
  • Have your septic system inspected periodically.  Failed systems may  allow
    groundwater contamination.
  • Cesspools are not allowed and are a threat for contamination.  Notify the District if
    you discover one.

* Originally printed in the February 2006 South Plains Groundwater News published by
South Plains Underground Water Conservation District.