Saving water, one drop in the bucket at a time

RELEASE: Sept. 28, 2007 – Volume XXXIX, No. 39

Wasteful folks are sometimes said to “spend money like water.” The expression, clearly in need of an update, implies that water is something that can be poured away freely without thought. For a change, let’s talk about spending water like it was money, each drop considered precious.

That’s exactly what’s happening in Denver, Colorado. The city has been recognized by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for successfully reducing water usage with “bold, forward-thinking water conservation programs.”

New Jersey could benefit by checking out Denver Water, a utility which has proven it’s simple to save water in many ways. The utility runs a wide variety of water conservation programs, and the results are substantial – a 21 percent decrease in water usage last summer alone! Couldn’t we do that in this state we’re in?

Some of Denver Water’s conservation efforts date back to the mid-1970s, but over half the program’s components have been instituted since 1990. These include ‘traditional’ things like rebates for replacing old appliances with new water-efficient modern machines, incentives for increasing commercial water use efficiency, and free water-use audits.

One particular area in which Denver Water has excelled is its “Use Only What You Need” mass media public education campaign. Using eye-catching, bright orange and white advertising – everything from lawn signs and billboards to a website (www.useonlywhatyouneed.org) and Internet video clips – Denver Water has spread the message of water conservation.

“Use Only What You Need” attacks water use at its source – the consumer. The message is that even minor lifestyle changes on the part of consumers will save a few drops – or quarts, or gallons - of water. For example:

• If it’s broke, fix it. Repair a dripping faucet or running toilet and save up to 50 gallons of water per day!
• Don’t run it until it’s full. Start your dishwasher or washing machine only with full loads and save 2 to 4.5 gallons, and 15 to 50 gallons, respectively.
• Water your yard before 8 a.m. to reduce evaporation, and save 20-25 gallons every time.
• Save 40 gallons per day by upgrading your sprinkler system to a ‘smart’ controller that adjusts for hotter weather and switches off when it rains.
• Turn the water off when brushing your teeth, and save two gallons per minute.

Multiply these saved drops by hundreds of thousands of customers and the result is a tidal wave of water conservation! This is the same principle behind New Jersey’s drought restrictions on watering lawns and washing cars. But the results in Denver demonstrate the wisdom in acting proactively and consistently, and the power of taking simple steps.

This brings us to supply-and-demand… since water utility customers pay for the amount they use, using less saves money! As a bonus, conserving water can save costly electricity too, since pumps run less.

There’s no reason New Jersey shouldn’t be able to match Denver’s 20-percent water savings. We don’t need a drought, either! So make an effort to be water-wise in your home and business, and enjoy smaller utility bills plus a healthier environment!

You can get many more tips on saving water at www.h2ouse.org, www.bewaterwise.com and other websites; and you can check out Denver Water’s impressive conservation efforts at www.denverwater.org. If you would like more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources, I invite you to contact me at info@njconservation.org, or visit NJCF’s website at www.njconservation.org.

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