|
 “Gardens, pools, car washing and outdoor cleaning are
all activities that go hand-in-hand with summer, and also increase
water use and water waste,” said, Beth Matthews, vice president of
operations for Illinois American Water. “Unfortunately, consumers
may not think about water use or water waste in the summer until
they receive a high bill. We want to help prevent this from
occurring, while also protecting our precious water resources.”
Customers are encouraged to use water wisely by implementing some
wise water tips for outdoor water use:
• Reuse it. Use water from rain barrels and kiddie pools for
watering lawn and gardens.
• Embrace the bucket! Instead of using a running hose, use water
contained in a bucket for washing cars and pets, and rinsing
sandy/grassy feet.
• Timing is everything. Only water during the coolest parts of the
day (early morning or evening) to minimize evaporation. Watering
during the middle of the day has potential to lose up to 30% due to
evaporation.
• Odd/Even Watering of your lawn. Watering your lawn uses a lot of
water, so only water your lawn when it needs it. Generally, lawns
only need an inch or so of water per week.
• Use drip irrigation hoses to water your plants.
• Consider using a broom instead of a hose. Using a broom eliminated
the need for unused water to clear the sidewalk or patio.
• Rain delay. Watch weather forecast to avoid “Mother Nature”
re-watering your garden, which could also damage plants.
• Pick your plants wisely. Purchase varieties that require less
water and remain hearty in drier weather. And don’t forget to mulch
(only 2-3”) to help with water retention.
• Be a leak detective. Find and fix leaks and breaks
in hoses, sprinkler systems and pipes. For help, download Illinois
American Water’s Leak Detection Kit at illinoisamwater.com under
Water Information.
• Raise the blade. Raise the level of your lawnmower blade to avoid
lawn burnout and the need for watering. [to top of second
column] |
• Keep an eye out. Watch your sprinkler’s “sweep” to make sure
all the water is reaching vegetation that needs it and not the pavement! Check
this frequently in case a person or animal has accidentally redirected your
sprinkler.
More tips for indoor and outdoor wise water use can be found online at
www.illinoisamwater.com.
“We’re encouraging everyone to monitor their water usage. By following these
wise water tips, we hope customers can see how easy it can be to conserve water
in everyday settings,” said Matthews. “Customers can track their water usage
online through MyWater and find ways to use water more wisely.”
In addition, the company wants to remind customers they may qualify to receive
assistance in paying their bill through Illinois American Water’s H2O Help to
Other’s Program. For more information, please visit here.
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 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide
regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services
to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean,
affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help make sure we
keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow
American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Media Contact: Karen Cotton, Senior Manager External Communications,
309.566-4126 or karen.cotton@amwater.com
[Karen Cotton] |
