Water Conservation – Do your part!

The recent showers of rain which were a welcome treat pushed away the thought from the minds of some consumers that they still need to conserve water. Too often when the water bill arrives, the figure, which can be staggering, proves difficult for consumers to pay. In this economy anything that can be done to save money is a necessity.

Another thing to remember is that while we have water now, that might not always be the case. According to the information from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, El Nino which is the driving force for the drought which Jamaica had been experienced last year was expected to continue into the dry season (Dec 2015 – Mar 2016).

However, for the early rainfall season (April/May) conditions should improve over most parishes once the El Nino weakens, as is being predicted by the models.

Water Conservation

Consumers are therefore reminded to be aware of the following tips to conserve water.

• Check your pipes for leaks a leaky faucet can waste up to 7,600 litres (2,000 gallons) of water per year.

• Don’t leave the water running for washing dishes. If you have two sinks, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have only        one sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a pan-full of water.

Similarly, don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Just rinse them in a sink or a pan of clean water.

• Instead of washing driveways, sidewalks, gutters and steps, use a hard broom to sweep these areas.

• Don’t use fresh water for your plants and garden. Save the rinse water from your kitchen or laundry, and do your watering in the early morning – this prevents fungus growth, which occurs when you water at dusk.

• Don’t let your children play with taps, hoses and sprinklers.

Their innocent play on a hot day could waste hundreds of gallons of precious water.

• Wash your car with a bucket of water and a rag, not a running hose.