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Help save water during the drought

NC State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences just launched a website called "Dealing with Drought." The website offers tips and resources to help North Carolinians cope with the drought. Examples include instructions to make your own rain barrel and a list of drought tolerant grasses and plants for your garden. Visit this site and learn more!

Water conservation tips

Inside

  • Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four. Do the same when washing your hands or lathering up in the shower.
  • Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 1000 gallons a month.
  • Only run the dishwasher when you have a full load-if you have a newer model, don't pre-rinse the dishes.
  • Fit faucets with aerators and showerheads with low-flow heads.
  • Replace conventional toilets and other small household appliances with items that boast the EPA's new "watersense" label. These products use up to 20% less water than other low-flow models.
  • Wash clothes only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons each month.
  • Boycott bottled water. Bottled water is simply water that has been pumped out of someone else's supply (i.e. a different watershed than yours!) Besides, it's very expensive. If your car ran on the stuff, you'd be paying about $6.00 a gallon.
  • Boiling veggies? Save that water for soup stock or water houseplants with it.
  • Keep a bucket nearby to collect water as your shower warms up. Use this water to pre-soak pots and pans, water houseplants, or to fill your pet's water bowl.
  • Compost kitchen scraps instead of using the garbage disposal.
  • If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
  • Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week.

Outside

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    Wash your vehicle at home, and turn off the water when you are not rinsing.
  • Better yet- wash your car on the grass. This will water your lawn at the same time.
  • Grass can develop a tolerance for drought conditions, so water your lawn only when it needs it. If you leave footprints on the grass, it is usually time to water.
  • Test soil moisture with a soil probe or screwdriver before you water. If the soil is moist, don't water!
  • Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
  • Avoid overfertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water and is a source of water pollution.
  • Landscape with native vegetation. Once established, these plants require less attention and are adapted to survive in the climate that is persistent in your area.
  • If you have to water a garden, water at night when evaporation rates are lower, and water deeply once a week to encourage deep roots.
  • Mulch plants and gardens. Mulch helps to maintain even soil temperatures, slow erosion, and suppress weeds.
  • When watering on steep slopes, use a soaker hose to prevent wasteful runoff and erosion.
  • Make or purchase rain barrels to collect and store rain water that can be used to water the garden in periods of drought.
  • Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
  • Sweep your driveways and sidewalks with a broom instead of spraying them off with a hose.
  • We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
  • Make sure you know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.