BESTPRACTICES

It is the mission of Stream Team to protect and enhance water resources and associated habitats and wildlife in Thurston County through citizen action and education. Stream Team is funded and jointly managed by the stormwater utilities of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater and Thurston County. www.streamteam.info

Thecloudshavefinallycleared,thesunisshining,andthenostalgicsmellofbackyardbarbecuesfilltheair.Yes,it’ssummertimeonceagain!There’salottorememberduringthistimeofyear:howoftentoapplysunscreen,wherethisyear’sfamilyvacationwillbe,andwhichexcitingStreamTeameventstoattend—justtonameafew.Duringthehustleandbustleofsummertime,itcanbe

easytoforgetaboutwateruse.Withrisingtemperaturescomesanincreaseinwateruse,(almostthreetimeshigherinsummercomparedtowinter)andaneedforconservation.Herearesomequickandeasytipsforconservingwater,bothindoorsandoutdoors:SaveWater&SaveGreen!Indoors• ConsiderusinganEnergyStardishwasheroverwashingdishesbyhand.Remembertorundishwashersonlywhentheyarefull.

• Monitoryourwaterbillforunusuallyhighuse—itcouldmean!Checkallfaucets,showers,tubs,andtoilets.• Trythewatermetertesttocheckforleaks:First,makesureallindoorandoutdoorwaterisshutoff,thenrecordthereadingofyourwatermeter.Wait15minutes,andtakeasecondreadingofyourmeter.Ifthereadinghaschanged,youmighthavealeak!

• Don’tuserunningwatertothawfood.Defrostitintherefrigerator.• Ifyourshowerfillsaone-gallonbucketinlessthan20seconds,replacewithalow-flowshowerhead.• Turnoffthewaterwhileyoubrushyourteethorshave,andsaveupto4gallonsaminute.

Outdoors• Checktoseeifyourwaterproviderhasanoutdoorwateringschedule.• Bealeakdetective!Checkallirrigationsystems,gardenhoses/nozzlesandwaterfeaturesforleaks.• Picktherightoutdoorplants!ChooseplantsthatarenativetoWesternWashingtonorarewaterwise.• Installdripirrigationinanyplantingbedsthatrequireirrigation.• Ithelpstoretainsoilmoistureandblockthirstyweeds.• Usehosenozzlestocontroltheflowofwaterthroughyourhoses.• Adjustsprinklersandhosessothatdriveways,sidewalksandstreetsdon’tgetwatered.• Washyourpetsoutdoors,inanareaofyourlawnthatneedswater.

ConservingWater:ConservesYourCash!

BESTPRACTICES:ConservingWater:ConservesYourCash! 2of2

It is the mission of Stream Team to protect and enhance water resources and associated habitats and wildlife in Thurston County through citizen action and education. Stream Team is funded and jointly managed by the stormwater utilities of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater and Thurston County. www.streamteam.info

UtilityProvider

WhoisEligible? Incentives&Rebates

LOTTCleanWaterAlliance

LOTTCleanWaterAllianceSewerCustomer(Lacey,Olympia,Tumwater,UnincorporatedThurstonCounty)

$50rebateforEnergyStarcertifiedwashingmachineUpto$100forawater-efficienttoiletFormoreinfo.,gotohttp://www.lottcleanwater.org/rebates.htm

Lacey,Olympia&Tumwater

WaterCustomerswithOn-SiteSepticSystems

Highefficiencytoiletsand/orwashingmachines

Olympia&Tumwater

WaterCustomers Rainbarrelrebates(max.amountandnumbervariesbyjurisdiction)

Lacey,Olympia&Tumeater

WaterCustomers OutdoorWaterSavingKits,IndoorWaterSavingKit,and/or“Smart”irrigationcontrollerrebatesupto$200

PugetSoundElectric

CurrentPSEResidentialElectricorNaturalGasCustomer

Instantdiscountsupto$10offWaterSense©showerheads,faucets,andfaucetaeratorsatsomelocalhardwarestores.LookforthePSElogoontheitemslistedabovetofindinstantdiscounts.Formoreinfo,gotohttps://pse.com/savingsandenergycenter/Rebates/Pages/Water-savings.aspx

FormoreinformationaboutindoororoutdoorwaterconservationprogramslistedabovethatareofferedbytheCitiesofLacey,OlympiaorTumwatergoto:Lacey:www.ci.lacey.wa.us/water-conservationOlympia:http://olympiawa.gov/city-utilities/drinking-water/conservation.aspxTumwater:http://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/public-works/utilities/water-conservation

Source:StreamTeamNews,Spring2011

See contact information below.