Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

Water is essential to life. While it may seem like we have an endless supply of water on Earth, the truth is that clean, safe water is a limited resource, and one we cannot live without.

 Every day, people waste hundreds of gallons without realizing it. However, the good news is that protecting our waterways and practicing daily conservation is not a daunting task. It’s a series of simple, manageable actions that we can all take. In Liberty County, our focus on rivers and oceans peaks during World Ocean Day in June and Rivers Alive events in the fall. However, water conservation is not a seasonal concern; it’s a year-round commitment. By making small changes at home, we can all become “water savers” instead of “water wasters” every day of the year.

Here are some practical ideas from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to help you conserve water, reduce utility costs, and make a positive impact in your community.

Household ideas:

• Install a hot water recirculation device. By recirculating water that would otherwise go down the drain, you can save 2-3 gallons of water for each shower taken, or approximately 16,500 gallons per year per household. This could result in an average annual savings of $50 on your water bill and $40 on your energy bill, a tangible reward for your water-saving efforts.

• Never install a water- to-air heat pump or air-conditioning system. Air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water.

• Install water-softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum number of regenerations required to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.

• Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering a plant or garden. For example, reuse fish tank water on your household plants. It makes good fertilizer, too.

• Verify that your home is leak-free because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read the same, there is a leak.

• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet leaks at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste approximately 2,700 gallons of water per year. That is money going down the drain.

• Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.

• Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water.

Laundry ideas:

• Unlike your dishwasher, the amount of water your washing machine uses is adjustable, so plan loads and adjust according to the load size.

• Look for a water-saving washing machine to purchase.

• Front-load machines use less water than top-load machines.

Kitchen ideas:

• Minimize the use of kitchen sink disposals. They require a lot of water to operate correctly. Instead, start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste.

• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run to get a cool glass of water.

• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.

• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow stream of water from the faucet. Use the dirt water to run your sink disposal, if necessary.

• Fully load automatic dishwashers. They use the same amount of water no matter how much is in them.

• Buy dishwashers with water and energy-saving options.

Bathroom ideas:

• Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet leaks, the color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn-out, corroded, or bent parts. You can purchase kits to do this, but essentially, this is what the kit will do.

• Consider purchasing low-flow toilets that can reduce indoor water use by 20%.

• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the bathroom. It is not a trash can!

• Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version to save up to 2.5 gallons per minute.

• Take shorter showers. Try a “Navy” shower: get wet, turn off the water, lather up with soap, and scrub, then turn the water back on to rinse.

• Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later.

• Don’t let the water run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.

Every small step toward water conservation counts. Together, as a community, we can make a significant difference in protecting Liberty County’s water resources for generations to come.

For more information about conserving water, or to get involved in local cleanup and conservation projects, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 880-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga. gov. Please stay connected with us on Facebook @ keeplibertybeautiful or visit our website at www. keeplibertybeautiful.org.