NewsLeak

After experiencing an abnormally warm spring, many residents in Broomfield, Colorado, began to water their lawns earlier than usual this year. However, environmental officials are worried the early water use isn't such a good idea. According to the Broomfield Enterprise, Broomfield Environmental Services is asking residents to practice water conservation after the winter didn't produce as much snowpack as it generally does. The lower the snowpack is, the less water there might be for upcoming years, according to the source.

The reduction of water use isn't major – just 10 percent – but water suppliers hope it will make a lasting effect. Some of the suggestions the residents were given included only watering their lawns twice per week before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. and cleaning their walkways or driveways with a broom rather than by blasting with a hose. Officials are also urging residents to check to make sure there are no leaking pipes to avoid high water bills.

Another way residents could reduce their water usage is by using rain barrels on their properties. Even if the rainfall is small this season, the water that does come can be collected and stored for a later time. The water harvested would not only be useful for watering lawns and other household chores, but using rain barrels is one of the best ways to reduce chemically-treated water runoff, which can be detrimental to surrounding streams and waterways.

According to Rain Barrel Source, one great way to make the best of a system is by attaching multiple rain barrels together to collect as much rainwater as possible.

Students from two Egg Harbor Township middle schools teamed up to host the third annual Project Wet Make A Splash! water festival on May 29. The New Jersey students planned and executed the event with the idea of spreading information about water conservation to their peers and other schools.

The event included water conservation-themed activities such as skits, contests and games that allowed students to spread the education in an interactive manner. According to Shore News Today, one of the students, sixth-grader Zaria Woodford, engaged fellow students by giving a water conservation presentation.

“Filling a bathtub uses up to 70 gallons – milk jugs – of water. Maybe take a shower instead,” she said. “Another way to conserve is to turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth. That saves 200 gallons per month. You alone can save that much.”

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to conserve water is by using a rain barrel at home. Residents can place a rain barrel below gutters during rainfall and the barrels will collect and harvest water that can be used for later for everyday activities such as washing clothing or watering a garden. According to National Geographic, rain barrels can save up to 1,300 gallons of water during the summer months. Whether homeowners are interested in water conservation or not, a rain barrel might be just the thing to lower those high water bills.