By Snohomish County PUD
The month of August is the peak of summer in the Pacific Northwest. It’s the time of year when we spend more time outside, enjoying abundant sunshine and warmer temperatures. It’s also a time of high water usage as we fill pools and water thirsty gardens.
That extra usage can be a problem in the summer, when rainfall is sparse and the wildfire risk is prevalent. Drought conditions makes water conservation critical.
As a national leader in carbon-free energy, Snohomish County PUD is one of the most environmentally conscious utilities in the nation. That awareness extends to water use as the PUD supplies drinking water to more than 21,000 customers, most of them in the Lake Stevens, Granite Falls and Arlington areas. You can reduce your water use and lower your water bills with these water conservation tips:
In the kitchen
Clean vegetables and rinse dishes in a pan of water instead of under a running faucet.
Scrape rather than rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher and run your dishwasher only when it is full.
Keep a pitcher or bottle of water in the fridge for drinking. This will avoid running the faucet every time you want a cold drink.
In the bathroom
Don’t run the faucet while shaving or brushing your teeth.
Install a water-saver toilet that uses only 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
Take short showers instead of baths. Keeping your shower to less than five minutes can save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
Consider purchasing a low-flow showerhead, which can cut consumption by 40% or more. Also thermostatic shut-off valves are a smart way to save water.
In the garden
Cut down on watering needs by covering over that brown and dead grass with native and drought tolerant plants.
Install a hose timer to avoid over-watering or use a soaker hose to water your garden.
Repair leaky hose ends to decrease water waste.
Shop water savers
Find great products to conserve water and save money through PUD incentives at marketplace.snopud.com.
Operating since 1949, Snohomish County PUD is a customer-owned, not-for-profit electric and water utility that serves more than 360,000 customers in Snohomish County and Camano Island. For more information on conservation programs, visit www.snopud.com.
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