HARWICH WATER DEPARTMENT

Water Conservation

Water is a precious and limited resource in Harwich and we cannot afford to waste it. We should all conserve this resource by becoming Water Wise. Water conservation reduces the need for developing new water sources and storage facilities, protects both streams and wetlands, and can save you money. Every drop counts and you can make a difference by paying attention to how you use water everyday and conserving. The Harwich Water Department has prepared the following water conservation tips to assist water consumers in conserving water and saving money.

Water that is used outdoors during the summer in Harwich accounts for up to 60% of the Town's total annual water consumption.  There is so much you can do to conserve on irrigation that we have a separate tab for these conservation tips.  LEARN ABOUT IRRIGATION CONSERVATION

NON-IRRIGATION OUTDOOR WATER CONSERVATION

• Avoid washing down your driveway, patio or sidewalks with a hose. Hosing down an average sized driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water. Try using a garage push broom instead.
• Use shut-off nozzles on hoses. Always shut off hoses when they are not in use, a running hose can release 3-5 gallons of water per minute.
• When washing your car use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for initial and final rinsing and a bucket of soapy water for scrubbing. Water with dishsoap is good for grass so consider washing your car over the lawn.
• If you occasionally use the sprinkler or hose to cool down in the summer, limit the flow and select a dry area of the lawn to have fun while spot watering at the same time. This can be substituted for your normal watering cycle.
• Collect rainwater and use it to water your plants.

WATER CONSERVATION IN THE KITCHEN

• Fill a pitcher of water and keep it in the refrigerator for cold drinking water instead of running the faucet until the water has cooled down. A running faucet can waste 3-5 gallons of water per minute (gpm).
• When cleaning vegetables soak them first in a basin of water rather than rinsing them under a running faucet. A shallow basin of water can remove dirt and grit better than a spray of water. The water used for cleaning can be reused for plants.
• Run your dishwasher only when it is full. If you have a small amount of dishes, hand wash them. When hand washing dishes don't let the water run continuously. Try soaking pots, pans, and dishes immediately after they are used to reduce the water needed to clean them.
• Consider installing low-flow faucet aerators on your kitchen and bathroom faucets. The aerator can be screwed into your existing faucet and can reduce flow from up to 7 gpm to 1.5 gpm while maintaining a good flow of water.

WATER CONSERVATION IN THE BATHROOM

• Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, etc.
• Take shorter showers and/or install a low-flow showerhead. Showerheads sold today are required to be 2.5gpm or less, which is low-flow. A quality low-flow showerhead can be purchased for less than $20, which can be recovered by the savings on your water bill in less than one year.
• Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket. Flushing tissues and bits of paper can waste many gallons of water everyday.
• Consider replacing your toilet with a low-flush toilet. Conventional toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. The newer ultra-low flush toilets (made since the early 1990's) use 1.6 gallons of water per flush. When it comes to purchasing an ultra-low flush toilet the old saying is true, "you get what you pay for."
• Fix leaky faucets and toilets. A slow drip can waste 15 - 20 gallons per day, while a larger leak or running toilet can waste over 100 gallons per day!
• Check your toilet for a leak by placing 10 drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet and waiting 15 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Be sure to flush as soon as your test is done because the food coloring may stain the bowl.
• If you have a toilet that uses 5 - 6 gallons of water per flush you can install a water displacement device in the tank of your toilet to reduce the amount of water that is used. Place a plastic bottle, filled with water and a few stones or marbles to weigh it down, you can also use a brick, but be sure to place it in a watertight plastic bag to prevent it from disintegrating. Make sure that your water displacement device does not interfere with the flapper valve.

CONSERVATION IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM

• Try to only wash full loads of laundry.
• When washing partial loads don't use more water or soap than you need (adjust the water level and amount of detergent as needed).Wash clothes when they are dirty instead of each time they are worn.
• Avoid double washing by pre-soaking clothes. Use the pre-soak setting on your washer or start the wash cycle to partially fill the tub, turn the washer off and allow clothes to soak, then turn the wash cycle on