Fresh clean drinking water is yours to use whenever you need it. Lake Erie provides the City of Erie and surrounding communities with an abundant supply of water and the Erie Water Works has sufficient pumping, storage and distribution capacity to meet the water needs for all EWW customers. EWW customers may use all the water they want, however we encourage you to use it wisely. Here are a few things you can do to prevent water waste.
1. Check your toilets for leaks.
Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.
2. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush.
There is no need to keep water pouring down the drain. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
3. Check faucets and pipes for leaks.
Even the smallest drop from a worn washer can waste 20 or more gallons a day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds.
4. Use your automatic dishwasher and your automatic washing machine only for full loads.
5. Water your lawn only when it needs it.
A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn’t need water. If it stays flat, fetch the sprinkler.
6. Deep-soak your lawn.
When you do water, do it long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems.
For EWW customers, there are no sprinkling restrictions of any kind in effect. The Erie Water Works estimates it costs only $2.50 to water a 5,000 square-foot lawn for 30 minutes three times a week. Follow these tips to save water outside and still maintain a healthy green lawn.