JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The St. Johns River Water Management District is urging people to conserve water.
Despite recent rainfall, it says rainfall totals in June were below average for the fifth consecutive month.
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In June, 14 counties got less than the monthly average of rain. Some areas were down more than 2 inches from normal.
Baker County was down 4½ inches.
There are some simple things people can do to cut down on water usage and their water bill.
There are the basics like turning off the water while you aren’t actively using the faucet. But that might just be scratching the surface.
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JEA says about 30% of the water it provides is actually used outside, and the city-owned utility estimates anywhere from 35% to 50% of that is actually wasted by evaporation or runoff.
When watering your lawn:
- Check sprinkler heads: A broken head can waste 25,000 gallons of water in six months, according to JEA.
- Check where the water is going: Make sure it is hitting your landscaping and not the sidewalk
- Don’t water when it is windy
- Only water when you need to
RELATED: JEA urges customers to follow mandatory watering days, limit to twice a week
JEA has assigned days to water your lawn based on your address.
*Daylight Saving Time: Second Sunday in March until first Sunday in November
- Odd numbered/No address: Wednesday & Saturday
- Even numbered address: Thursday & Sunday
- Non-residential Property: Tuesday & Friday
Eastern Standard Time: First Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March
- Odd numbered/No address: Saturday
- Even numbered address: Sunday
- Non-residential Property: Tuesday
But, of course, that doesn’t mean you should disregard how you use water inside your home.
Leaks are the No. 1 reason customers see their consumption increase, JEA said.
JEA recommends:
- Take shorter showers. A 10-minute shower with a low-flow shower head uses less water than a full bath.
- Run only full loads in the dishwasher, and before putting your dishes in, scrape them clean instead of rinsing them. Use the air-dry option if available. When hand-washing dishes, avoid letting the water run.
- Turn off the water when brushing your teeth, washing your hands and shaving.
- Wash only full loads of laundry using cold water and the short/energy cycle.
- Install high-efficiency faucet aerators in kitchen and bathroom sinks.
- Upgrade to newer faucets that use up to 30% less water. Learn about EPA WaterSense Showerheads
- Upgrade to newer toilets that use 20% less water than conventional toilets. Learn about EPA WaterSense High Performance Toilets