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Metro
Water Conservation Month is recognized by Florida in April, which is the driest month in the state. The purpose of this month is to educate the public about how to manage water resources more wisely and to promote the need to conserve water. Water conservation is important because if we use water faster than the Floridan Aquifer can replace it through rainfall, then we have depleted our needed water resource.
How can we conserve water? Utilities and citizens can take action to aid the conservation effort. Toho Water Authority, the City of Kissimmee and the City of St. Cloud have partnered together for the annual National Mayor’s Water Challenge. This challenges the cities to get the most pledges from residents to be more wise with water. Residents can take or renew their pledges at www.tohowatersaver.com for their city.
Toho is also offering our customers a number of opportunities to make their homes more sustainable. This month is full of educational displays, giveaways and events held at various locations across the county. An exciting event is Toho’s Showerhead Exchange Program. This opportunity enables customers to exchange their old, high-flow showerheads for new, low-flow devices. This exchange will be on Wednesday afternoons at many locations. Those who are interested should follow our social media outlets for updates.
What YOU can do!
Leaks: A faucet can leak when the washers and gaskets get older, which can waste 20 gallons of water per day as just a drip. Check faucets and pipes for leaks by looking for surface water.
Showers: Consider replacing your showerhead with a more water-efficient model if your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in under 20 seconds. You can also use pipe tape to secure a tight connection of the showerhead and the pipe stem if you notice leaks. Another quick tip is to take shorter showers!
Devices: Use your dishwasher and washing machine only for full loads. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
Outdoor Plants: Choose native plants that are adapted to Florida and need less water. Consider adding mulch to your garden to reduce evaporation. This decreases the amount of water needed for a garden by as much as 50%.
Lawn: When you mow your grass, never mow more than 1/3 of the grass height as it makes the grass more tolerant to dry weather. Inspect your irrigation system by turning on each zone and look for broken or misdirected sprinkler heads.
Try out some of these water saving activities throughout Water Conservation Month. Toho invites you to attend some of our upcoming events and to take the pledge to be a water hero.
