As Temperatures Rise, Illinois American Water encourages wise water use

[June 10, 2017]  LINCOLN - With temperatures expected to rise across the region, reaching into the 90s this weekend and next week, Illinois American Water is reminding customers to use water wisely.

“From keeping hydrated to water sprinklers, as well as running air conditioning and watering lawns, water plays an important role in summertime fun and responsibilities. We are proud of the service we provide and want to be sure folks are using water wisely,” said Mike Smyth, vice president of operations.

The following tips from Illinois American Water can help consumers use water more efficiently, plus identify and prevent leaks, a significant source of water waste.

Water your lawn only when it needs it. An easy way to tell is to simply walk across the grass. If it springs back you don't need to water, but if you leave footprints, it’s time to water.

Set your lawn mower one notch higher to make your lawn more drought-tolerant.

Consider using drip irrigation or a rain barrel to water your outdoor plants, and water in the early morning.

As much as 30 percent of water can be lost to evaporation by watering during midday.

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your sidewalk, driveway or patio.

Forego the hose and wash your car with a bucket and sponge instead, which uses only a few gallons to do the job, while a hose left running can waste as much as six gallons per minute.

Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are full and adjust the water level of your washing machine to match the load size. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.

Also newer, high-efficiency washing machines use less than 27 gallons of water per load, compared to between 27 and 54 gallons a load with traditional machines.

Keep a pitcher of cold tap water in the refrigerator. You will avoid the cost and environmental impact of bottled water and you will have cold water available for warm days without running the faucet.

A short shower is better than a bath. A full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water, while taking a 5- minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.

Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 8 gallons per day.

Regularly check your toilet, faucets and pipes for leaks and have them fixed promptly. An easy test for toilet leaks from EPA WaterSense: Place a drop of food coloring in the tank. If the color tints the water in the bowl without flushing, there's a leak. Or, check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, there is probably a leak.

About Illinois American Water - Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

[Karen L. Cotton
Manager, External Affairs
Illinois American Water]