HOMEOWNER'S GUIDE- Water Conservation

By reducing the amount of overall water use, you are reducing the amount of wastewater that must be disposed of and minimizing household runoff that could contain chemicals. Here are some suggestions for water conservation in your home:

• Get rid of any leaks in pipes, toilets, faucets or hoses;
• Use water-saving devices such as flow-restricting showerheads, low-flow faucets and toilet flushing devices;
• Wash full loads of dishes and laundry and use the water saving cycle on your machines;
• Throw your waste in the trash or compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal, which uses a lot of water and put solids in your sewer system;
• Don’t leave taps running whilst doing things such as teeth brushing or washing up;
• Rinse dishes and produce in a bowl;
• Water your lawn only when necessary at the coolest time of day;
• Wash your car with a hose that has a shut off nozzle;
• Sweep your driveway instead of hosing it.

For more information get a checklist from The Department of Water Supply on the Big Island 808-961-8060.

FACT: Your toilet is the largest water user in your home!

 Reducing Runoff
Runoff from everyday household activities can contain fuel, oil, soap, fertilizers and pet faeces. You can reduce your runoff by:

• Directing water from hard surface areas into bushes or grasses;
• Directing roof water towards vegetation or gravel trenches;
• Instead of using concrete or asphalt for pavements, use paving stones or bricks on a bed of sand so the water can soak in-between the stones;
• Use a swale to channel runoff across instead of down a slope so there is more soil to absorb the water. Similarly use terraces or rock walls to channel water across steep slopes;
• Include a vegetated gravel-lined detention area to hold runoff water. Plant it with trees and plants to increase its absorption potential.
  
  Photographs: Robert Shallenberger, Doug Sell and Andrew Walsh.