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PrintMore Bang for Your Buck: Conserving Water
Reported by:
Producer:
Laura Garrigan
Contact:
Archived Reports:
It's one natural resource that we often take for granted. But saving water can also save you a lot of money. Tonight -- some easy tips to get more bang for your buck and keep your cash from going down the drain.
(WSVN) -- Think of all the ways, we use and overuse water.
Darlene Rogers
says, "I think in this country we have a lot of waste."Darlene Rogers understands this waste can quickly backfire in the form big bucks.
She says, "
Maybe there are some things we could do differently help our bill."The average home should spend about 1-hundred dollars every three months.
Frank Calderon
of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department says, "We've found through experience one of the biggest causes of high water bills is a leaking toilet."To find out if your toilet leaks, put a dozen drops of food coloring in the tank.
If the color appears after 15 minutes, there's the problem.
If that doesn't' work, pay close attention to your water meter.
"
Make sure no one is using water inside first of all or outside the house and you take a look at the dial and if it's not moving that means you don't have a leak."That's good news. But if your home is leak free and your bill is still high, then it's time to start conserving instead of consuming.
And there's no better place to start than the kitchen...
"D
ishwashers are more efficient to use then hand-washing dishes."Water appliances should also be water efficient.
If you're shopping around, look for the energy star label.
"
You're going to save water but you're also going to save energy."When it comes to water fixtures, low flow is the way to go. It will cut your water use in half.
"
They force the water to come out at a certain pressure so you almost don't notice a difference."Outside, make sure you keep the hose and sprinklers off during the peak of the heat.
"
If you run it in the middle of the day with the sun out bright and hot - your money is basically just evaporating."Also cut your grass no shorter than three inches and surround your plants with plenty of mulch.
This way, the ground will retain more moisture.
"
We don’t want to waste. Usage is fine but you don't what to just turn the water on. There are things we can all learn to enhance the usage of the water system."The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department offers a free at home water conservation kit with additional tips and gadgets.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: lmartinez@wsvn.com
Frank Calderon
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
305-665-7471
Order Kit Hotline: 305 448-SAVE