Be Water Wise!

Did you know that only 3% of the water on earth is fresh water? And only 0.3% of the earth's water is available for human use.  Water is a precious natural resource.  While we have two wonderful water sources in Lynchburg (The James River and the Pedlar Reservoir), our community must think about using water wisely in our homes and businesses. Here are a few tips to help you keep your home water wise!
 

Make Your Home Water Wise

	Fix any toilet leaks or dripping faucets.  Don't know if you have a leaky toilet? Add some food coloring into the toilet tank and wait 15-30 minutes. When you return, look in the toilet bowl, not the tank. If you see colored water in the toilet bowl, then you have a leak.
Take shorter showers.  The average American shower uses 17.2 gallons of water with the average show length being just over 8 minutes.Taking shorter showers will also help cut down on your energy use, since you will also be saving heating costs associated with showering.
	Turn off the water when you brush your teeth.  Just by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the morning and before bedtime, you can save up to 8 gallons of water!
Water outdoor plants before 10am or after 7pm to minimize evaporation (your plants will be happier too!)
	Install rain barrels. Utilizing a rain barrel will help you cut down on water usage and allows you to capture and use stormwater runoff from your home's roof.
Scrape your food off your dishes instead of pre-rinsing them. You can use the food scraps in compost or place it in the trash.  By scraping your food instead of pre-rinsing, you can save up to 20 gallons of water and prevent costly clogs in your plumbing.
	Track your water usage. If you live in Lynchburg, you may be able to track your water usage daily on your phone! New meter technology is being installed throughout the City that enables citizens to track their water usage. Visit the EyeOnWater page to learn more about when this technology will be available to you.