Water Conservation Tips

Clean, potable water is one of our most precious resources. The Town of Fuquay-Varina is committed to providing each home in our service area with an adequate supply of this valuable commodity. You, as a resident of our service area, can help by following a few simple tips for conservation.

In the Home

• Take care to shut off your faucets completely. Just 1 faucet leaking at the rate of 1drop per second can waste as much as 2,800 gallons of water per year. Not only does this waste water, it adds greatly to your utility bill.
• If your home is equipped with a dishwasher, wash only full loads. If you wash dishes by hand, do not let the water run continuously when rinsing.
• A modern shower head utilizes about 2.5 to 3 gallons of water per minute. A 5-minute shower would use about 15 gallons. A tub bath will require 35 to 50 gallons.
• Aerator type faucets help reduce water usage and energy costs. Turning the water off while shaving or brushing teeth is a great way to further take advantage of this device.
• Did you know that your toilet can use between 1.7 to 7.5 gallons of water each time it is flushed? A good tip is to fill a 2-liter bottle with water and sand/pebbles and place it in your commode tank. You save 2 liters per flush by this crafty conservation method.
• Make sure there are at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it functions properly, and you could save up to 10 gallons per day.
• Adjustable toilet flappers can be purchased for under $10 and easily installed to lower your per-flush water use.
• Periodically check to see if you hear water running in your commode tank. A valve not properly seating can allow water to trickle into or out of the tank and waste up to 1,200 gallons per month. An easy way to check for a leak is to put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, wait 30 minutes, and check back to see if the color appears in the bowl without flushing. Any leaks found should be repaired immediately.

In the Yard

• When watering your lawn or plants, water by hand rather than by sprinklers. Direct the water to the plants root system, or to needed areas of the lawn. If using sprinklers,place them strategically to prevent them from depositing water on impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, driveway, etc.
• Consider investing in a Rain Barrel, which can collect water from your roof for reuse in the garden. This is a good way to save money and is more beneficial to your plants due to the nutrients contained in rain.
• Native plants are good to plant in the yard or garden since they are accustomed to the climate and use water more efficiently. They also benefit the local ecosystem.
• Water your lawn or garden early in the day or later in the evening to cut down on water lost to evaporation.
• When washing your car, fill a bucket with soapy water to scrub and save the hose for rinsing. This could prevent up to 100 gallons of wasted water.
• Following these, and other conservation practices helps reduce stress on the water system and promote a more sustainable lifestyle, benefiting us and future generations.

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