Credit: Frank McShane. Where does water come from? Credit: John Cornacchia Credit: Jeff Oates Tap...
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Credit: Frank McShane. Where does water come from? Credit: John Cornacchia Credit: Jeff Oates Tap water comes from… Surface water (rivers and reservoirs)
Where does water come from? Credit: John Cornacchia Credit:
Jeff Oates Tap water comes from Surface water (rivers and
reservoirs) Underground pools called aquifers
Slide 3
Credit: Frank McShane
Slide 4
Conserving Water Conservation Conservation (noun) : the keeping
or protecting of something from change, loss, or damage. Credit:
Bener Kavukcuoglu Everything we do on the land has an impact on
local waterways. Indoors, the goal is to reduce the amount of water
that goes down the drain. Outdoors, we can reduce the amount of
water that evaporates or runs off our properties.
Slide 5
Natural Water Cycle Credit: Frank McShane
Slide 6
Stormwater Credit: Shaun Bailey Rain is natural, but stormwater
is manmade. Stormwater is the water from rain or melting snow that
can become runoff, flowing over the hard surfaces like roofs and
pavement and enter waterways. Runoff can cause flooding and carry
pollutants to waterways.
Slide 7
Green Stormwater Management Credit: Frank McShane
Slide 8
Water Conservation At Home At Home (slides 10-13) In Business
and Industry In Business and Industry (slides 14-15) At School At
School (slides 16-17) At Hotels At Hotels (slides 18-19) At Golf
Course and Other Large Recreational Land Areas At Golf Course and
Other Large Recreational Land Areas (slides 20-21) On the Farm On
the Farm (slides 22-25)
Slide 9
How much water are you really using? If you are on public water
supply Many water providers conduct free home water audits. Your
water bill will tell you how many gallons of water you use per
billing cycle. If you have your own well Did you know? Domestic
water use consumes an estimated 14% of all freshwater used in the
US. (www.worldbank.org) Install a flow meter to determine how much
water you are using. 14%
Slide 10
Leaks Inside and Outside Credit: Frank McShane
Slide 11
Inside the Home - Bathroom Tips: By reducing shower time to 5
minutes, you can save 12,000 gallons of water per year! A
water-wise low flow fixture can save approximately 7,600 (or more)
gallons per year in the average household! Did you know? Turning
off the water as you brush your teeth and shave can save over
11,000 gallons per year. Use water-wise, low flow fixtures and
showerheads. Reduce shower time. Consider a toilet upgrade. Turn
water off as you brush your teeth or shave.
Slide 12
Inside the Home Kitchen & Laundry Upgrade dishwashers and
washing machines to Energy Star labeled. Always run dishwashers and
washing machines with full loads. Dont let water run as you hand
wash your dishes. Reuse water when you can. Keep a pitcher of cold
water in the fridge instead of running cold water until it is cold
enough. Compost vegetable and fruit waste instead of running the
garbage disposal. Did you know? Tips: Energy Star labeled
dishwashers and washing machines can save a combined 30,000 gallons
of water per year! Updated or aerated faucets can save over 15,000
gallons of water per year!
Slide 13
Outside the Home By raising your mower blade to at least 3
inches, the longer grass creates shade for healthier root systems
that soak up and retain more water. Avoid using sprinklers on hot
or windy days (to decrease the rate of evaporation). Only water
lawns about 1 inch per week. Raise your mower blade to at least 3
inches. Use drought and heat tolerant grasses and plants. Did you
know? Tips: A heavy rainfall can sustain your yard for up to 2
weeks.
Slide 14
Outside the Home continued Use soaker hoses or other drip
methods instead of sprinklers. Use rain barrels or cisterns to
collect rain water and water your lawn, plants or garden. Use
commercial car washes or wash cars on the grass. Keep your pool and
hot tub covered to reduce evaporation. Use a broom to clean up
walkways, steps, and driveways instead of the hose. Shovel snow and
ice and use only salt- free de-icing alternatives when necessary.
Tips:
Slide 15
Install aerators and low flow or motion sensing faucets in
bathroom and kitchen areas, as well as WaterSense labeled toilets
and urinals. Conduct a company water use audit. Consider using
reclaimed wastewater or captured rainwater for industrial
processes. Designate a contact person or department for employees
to report plumbing leaks and repair them. Wash company vehicles at
a carwash that recycles water. Update and maintain cooling and
heating systems. Did you know? Industry and institutions account
for an estimated 46% of all freshwater used in the US.
(www.worldbank.org) Tips: 46%
Slide 16
Replace expensive, high maintenance turf grass with absorbent
meadows, native plant gardens, trees, and rain gardens. Make sure
sprinkler systems do not water paved areas. Only water as needed
and use moisture-sensing irrigation controllers. Use brooms to
sweep outdoor walkways instead of hosing them down. Tips: Use rain
barrels or cisterns to collect water and water lawns and landscaped
areas. Keep snow piles at least 100 feet away from streams and
floodplains Dump snow in areas that will allow melting snow to soak
into the ground. Store de-icing materials on pads and under cover
away from stormwater flow paths and stormdrains. Schedule street
sweeping to remove residual salts from parking areas each
spring.
Slide 17
Make leaks in pipes, sinks, and toilets a priority on
maintenance repair to-do lists. Install aerators and low flow or
motion sensing faucets in bathroom. Install WaterSense labeled
toilets and urinals. Choose water efficient and energy saving
models when updating facility systems and kitchen equipment. Train
staff on water-saving techniques. Use strainers instead of garbage
disposals in kitchen sinks. Tips:
Slide 18
Use native and drought tolerant grasses and plants. Water only
as needed. Where possible, convert turf grass to natural meadows or
forests. Make sure sprinkler systems do not water paved areas. Use
moisture-sensing irrigation controllers so your sprinklers never
run in the rain. Tips: Raise mower blade to at least 3 inches. Try
soaker hoses and other drip methods as alternatives to sprinklers.
Use rain barrels or cisterns to capture rain and use on lawns,
landscaped areas, or washing vehicles/equipment. Use brooms to
sweep outdoor walkways. When treating icy parking lots and
walkways, consider using salt-free de-icers and keep snow piles at
least 100 feet away from streams, flood plains, and stormdrains.
Dump snow in areas that will allow melting snow to soak into
ground.
Slide 19
Encourage guests to reuse towels and bed linens. Train cleaning
staff to take only guest-designated towels and linens for cleaning.
Upgrade laundry facilities. Run only full loads of laundry. Replace
inefficient fixtures with WaterSense labeled faucets, showerheads,
toilets, and urinals. Install aerators and low flow or motion
sensing faucets in public bathrooms Repair leaks in pipes, sinks,
and toilets. Use water efficient dishwashers, ice makers, and
cooking appliances. Train kitchen staff on water-saving techniques.
Use strainer instead of garbage disposal in kitchen sinks. Tips: A
WaterSense labeled toilet uses a maximum of only 1.3 gallons per
flush and saves nearly 11,000 gallons of water per year! Toilets
installed prior to 1992 can use 3.5 or more gallons per flush. Did
you know?
Slide 20
Use native, drought tolerant plants and turf. Only water as
needed using moisture-sensing controllers. Make sure sprinkler
systems do not water paved areas. Raise mower blades to at least 3
inches. Try soaker hoses and other drip methods as an alternative
to sprinklers. Use rain barrels and cisterns to capture and reuse
water on lawns and landscaped areas. Use broom to sweep outdoor
walkways instead of hosing them down. When treating icy parking
lots and waterways, use salt-free de-icers. Store de-icing
materials on pads and under cover. Keep snow piles at least 100
feet away from streams, floodplains, and stormdrains. Dump snow in
areas that allow melting snow to soak into the ground. Schedule
street sweeping to remove residual salts from parking areas each
spring. Tips: Soaker hoses and other drip methods can save 30-50%
of landscape irrigation water use. Did you know?
Slide 21
Upgrade irrigation systems. Use weather related software and
ground moisture sensors to water turf. Never allow sprinklers to
operate in the rain or water paved areas. Use mulch in flower beds
and landscaped areas to avoid water evaporation from the soil.
Tips:
Slide 22
Define vehicle, cart, and pedestrian traffic to specific
pathways to avoid compaction of soil. Use drought and pest
resistant grass. Employ aeration and other soil cultivation
techniques to improve water infiltration. Consider use of treated
municipal wastewater for irrigation purposes. Tips: Set mower
blades higher. Where turf grass is not needed, create a naturalized
meadow. Create onsite water storage ponds in low lying areas for
irrigation use in dry weather. When treating icy parking lots and
walkways, use salt-free de-icers. Keep snow piles at least 100 feet
away from streams, floodplains, and stormdrains. Store de-icing
materials on pads and under cover. Dump snow in areas that allow
melting snow to soak into the ground. Schedule street sweeping to
remove residual salts from parking areas each spring.
Slide 23
Install water flow meters to understand and monitor your water
usage. Consider using low-spray (close to ground) or drip
irrigation systems Use holding ponds as water supply. Use local
weather data and computer software/apps to determine effective
irrigation times. Level and contour-plow fields when possible.
Capture water that runs off your fields for reuse. Consider
creating berms between rows to reduce runoff. Tips: Did you know?
Agriculture utilizes approximately 40% of all freshwater used in
the United States. (www.worldbank.org) 40%
Slide 24
Where appropriate for the crop, use black plastic film or
reusable landscape cloth to prevent moisture evaporation and reduce
watering needs. Use cover crops to reduce water evaporation from
soil. Avoid compacting soil with heavy machinery. Plant trees to
provide windbreaks to reduce water evaporation on the fields.
Tips:
Slide 25
Tips: Install gutters to capture rain that runs off buildings,
barns, and even hoop houses in barrels and cisterns. Be on the
lookout for leaks and make repairs as quickly as possible.
Slide 26
Install livestock fencing and cattle crossing to keep livestock
out of creeks. Graze livestock rotationally to avoid overgrazing
and loss of groundcover. Divert rainwater runoff away from heavy
livestock traffic and manure areas. Manage manure and runoff from
livestock areas in both wet and dry storage facilities. Tips:
Slide 27
Guides are also available for Guides are also available for :
farmers, homeowners, schools, and property management The
accompanying guide to this PowerPoint can be downloaded from
DelawareEstuary.org The accompanying guide to this PowerPoint can
be downloaded from DelawareEstuary.org
https://s3.amazonaws.com/delawareestuary/pdf/blue-guide.pdf
Slide 28
This presentation was developed by The Partnership for the
Delaware Estuary. Funding for this guide was provided by the US
Environmental Protection Agency in support of the National Estuary
Program.