Source: Piedmont Review. By: Laura Turner Seydel

We all remember the water shortage of Lake Lanier, and its effect on Atlanta was a topic of most conversations locally, regionally and even nationally. Even though this past summer did not present the same challenges, that doesn’t mean we can ignore conservation efforts. Whether or not there are restrictions in place, it is our duty as citizens to do our part to ensure that we are conscious about our water consumption. There are ways to conserve water, both inside and out, that families throughout Atlanta can easily implement into their daily lives.

Indoors

  • Since toilets account for 27 percent of indoor water use, install low-volume toilets. Before 1992, toilets used between 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. Now, toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less.
  • Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
  • Install a tankless water heater into your home. Instead of wasting water to heat up with a standard water heater, a tankless water heater warms water at a rate of two to five gallons per minute and can even save up to 60 percent on your energy bill.

Landscaping

  • Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so that only your lawn is being watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.
  • Make sure to water your lawn in the early morning when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter to minimize evaporation and ensure your lawn is getting maximum hydration.
  • Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Check with your local watering agency to see how much rain is needed for your area – you just me be able to skip an irrigation cycle or two.
  • Choose to irrigate your trees, shrubs and flowers with a water-efficient drip irrigation system. Watering at the roots is more effective and efficient.
  • Consider implementing the Xeriscaping method of landscape, which incorporates local plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate. This will minimize loosing water to evaporation and run-off.
  • Install rainwater cisterns to capture rainwater that can then be used to water your lawn.