Last month, Sarasota City Commissioners proposed a 6% increase,
each year for the next two years.
If approved, this will amount to 4 straight years of rate hikes
for Sarasota. Utility officials say the hikes are needed to keep up with
maintenance on infrastructure, which is 60 to 70 years old in some parts, and
to keep the department from going deeper in debt.
While we certainly understand their needs, we thought you would appreciate a
few water conservation tips for your home and garden that will keep the hikes
from affecting your bottom line and, as a bonus, help you protect the
environment.
Home
Flushing: A single flush can down several gallons of water. Keep a wastebasket
in the bathroom so you are not tempted to flush a single tissue and don’t ever
flush sanitary products, diapers, cotton balls, cotton swabs, or anything other
than toilet paper down the toilet, it’s bad for the plumbing and it wastes
water.
Brushing: Don’t leave the water running while you brush. You only need it on
while you rinse and maybe for a second if you like to wet the toothpaste before
brushing.
Showering: Keep a bucket handy so you can collect the water that is not warm
enough to shower in. You can use the collected water for gardening, cleaning,
or even to flush the toilet. Shutting the water off while you lather up will
save a lot of water too.
Washing Dishes: Use a tub for dishes that need soaking and keep the water off
while scrubbing, you only need it for rinsing.
Boiling Water: Save the water used for boiling eggs or steaming vegetables to
water plants.
Installing Regulators: Faucet regulators will keep the water from shooting out
at full strength and prevent waste.
Garden
Watering: Watering in the mornings, when it is not as hot out, means that the
water will not evaporate as quickly, so the roots stay healthy throughout the
day, and don’t just shoot a stream of water across the yard, aim the water at
base of the plants, where it’s needed most.
Irrigating: Drip irrigation systems are easily installed and they can help you
conserve water.
Have a Plumbing problem or need the services of a professional Sarasota Plumbing Contractor you can count on? Contact Professional Plumbing and Design today at (941) 355-5400.
#sarasotaplumber #sarasotawaterratehike
On average, a family of four uses about 80 gallons of
hot water per day. The energy required to heat that water is equivalent to the
11.4 barrels of oil required to power a vehicle that gets 22 mpg for a year
(12,000 miles). In other words, installing a Solar Water Heating System has the
same environmental impact as removing an average car from the road.
