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TALLAHASSEE ? Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet today signed a
resolution sponsored by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink recognizing April as
Water Conservation Month. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP),
together with the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association,
joined them in reaffirming the state?s commitment to increasing water use
efficiency.
The necessity for such measures is highlighted by current drought conditions
in much of the state, particularly in central, south and southwest Florida.
According to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center, below-average precipitation for
central and south Florida is predicted to continue through June. The Southwest
and South Florida Water Management Districts continue to experience drought
conditions to the extent that the Governing Boards of those districts have
issued water shortage orders to reduce demand and extend water supplies in the
affected areas.
?Recognizing April as Water Conservation Month helps promote the importance
of water conservation and encourages Floridians to become environmental stewards
at home and in their communities, which is especially important as so many areas
of our state are experiencing drought conditions,? said DEP Secretary Michael W.
Sole. ?By using water efficiently, we reduce the unnecessary waste of a precious
resource, we extend supplies of water for our growing population, and we protect
the state?s natural resources.?
Conservation is not about ?doing without.? Floridians can conserve water just
by adopting efficient habits that reduce water waste:
1. Watering lawns can account for more than 50 percent of water use at many
Florida homes or businesses. Irrigate your landscaping only when it actually
needs it. Many homes with irrigation systems apply far more water than is
necessary.
2. Choose landscaping suited to your location to reduce the need for
irrigation. Learn about beautiful Florida Friendly plants at
www.floridayards.org. There you can
view and select the right plants for your home or business.
3. Replace old
toilets that use up to five gallons of water per flush with high performance
water-efficient toilets certified by the Environmental Protection Agency?s WaterSense program
http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/.
4. Showering is one of the top uses of
residential water in the United States, representing approximately 17 percent of
indoor water use. Replace old showerheads with new low-flow models that work
just as well, but use less water.
5. Faucets account for more than 15 percent of
indoor household water use. Replace old faucets with WaterSense approved faucets
or aerators.
6. Fix water leaks. Homeowners lose an average of 25 gallons of
water a day through leaky water devices.
7. Run your washing machine and
dishwasher only when full and you could save 1,000 gallons a month. Consider
buying a clothes washer that has a water factor of 6.0 or less by going to
http://sjr.state.fl.us/floridawaterstar/pdfs/
clothes_washers_by_water_factor.pdf.
8. If washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running. You can save 200 to
500 gallons a month.
9. Repair dripping faucets. If your faucet is dripping at a
rate of one drop per second, you can waste 2,700 gallons per year.
10. Turn the
faucet off when brushing your teeth and avoid wasting two gallons of water per
brushing! Instead, wet your toothbrush, brush your teeth, and then turn the
water on again to rinse.
?Although drought conditions will come and go, the changes that we make in
the way that we use water will stay,? said Maribel Balbin, Water Use Efficiency
Manager for Miami-Dade and Vice-Chair of the Water Use Efficiency Division of
the Florida Section of AWWA. ?It is to the benefit of the future generations of
Floridians that we adopt policies and practices that would reduce the need to
develop costly alternative water supply sources.?
For more information about Florida?s water, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/water. For
more green tips, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/green/tips/.
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2012 State of Florida