Illinois American Water offers conservation tips
With the onset of rising temperatures, Illinois American Water reminds their customers to use water wisely.
From May through Sept. 15, residents are required to follow water conservation measures in IAW's Northern Illinois operations. These measures are approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission for communities served by IAW that are supplied with Lake Michigan water or have a Lake Michigan water allocation.
"As the weather warms, we all look forward to enjoying more outdoor activities. It is essential that we keep water conservation in mind and use water wisely," Senior Manager of Operations Jen Thornburg said.
The following tips from Illinois American Water can help consumers use water more efficiently, plus identify and prevent leaks, a significant source of water waste.
• Water your lawn only when it needs it. An easy way to tell is to simply walk across the grass. If it springs back you don't need to water, but if you leave footprints, it's time to water. Be sure to check and follow your local ordinances, as many municipalities have restrictions on consumptive outside uses to promote water conservation.
• Set your lawn mower one notch higher to make your lawn more drought tolerant.
• Consider using drip irrigation or a rain barrel to water your outdoor plants and water in the early morning. As much as 30 percent of water can be lost to evaporation by watering during midday.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your sidewalk, driveway or patio.
• Forego the hose and wash your car with a bucket and sponge instead, which uses only a few gallons to do the job, while a hose left running can waste as much as six gallons per minute.
• Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are full and adjust the water level of your washing machine to match the load size. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.
• Keep a pitcher of cold tap water in the refrigerator. You will avoid the cost and environmental impact of bottled water.
• A short shower is better than a bath. A full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water, while taking a 5-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.
• Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 8 gallons per day.
• Regularly check your toilet, faucets and pipes for leaks and have them fixed promptly. An easy test for toilet leaks from EPA WaterSense is to place a drop of food coloring in the tank. If the color tints the water in the bowl without flushing, there is a leak.
More wise water use tips can be found online at amwater.com/ilaw/water-information/wise-water-use.
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