WSP02687

• File Number: 7630.425
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Piedra River
• State: CO
• Basin: Western Slope
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 7/1/1992
• Author: Colo Rural Water Ass
• Title: Colorado Rural Water Association - Second Edition 1992
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Save Gallons of Water
Following These Tips
News USA
(NU) - Every American uses 60-80 gallons of wa-
ter a day in the home-most of it to operate bath-
rooms, \'\'3shing machines and dishwashers,
according to the National Rural \Vater Association.
But during the summer months, water usage in-
creases as people use even moce water to maintain
lawns and gardens.
During times of drought, water systems may have
difficulty handling this increased demand, and wa-
ter must sometimes be rationed.
To avoid rationing. and help their water systems,
consumers should implement simple household con-
servation practices.
Nearly 75 percent of household water is used. in
the bathroom, \vhere the most \\'Jsteful fixture is the
toilet.
Toilets manufactured before 1980 use between
five and seven gallons per flush. In a household of
four, the toilet can tL<:.e 80-112 gallons of water each
day.
To reduce the amount of water llsed by the toilet,
consumers can install a displacement device, which
maintain-; the water level in the toilet, but uses less
water.
To create a simple displacement device, place
pebbles in a quart-sized plastic milk bottle. Placing
two of these simple devices in your toilet tank can
reduce total household \vater use by 20 percent. or
12-16 gallons per person,
Another method for saving water in the bath-
room is to in..,tall a low-flow shower head. Standard
shower heads use ben.veen five and seven gallons
of water per minute, and during an average shower
can use up to 35 gallons of water.
Installing a 100\'-flow shO\\'er head is relatively
inexpensive, delivers water with just as much force
as a standard shower head and uses only hvo to
three gallons per minute.
Washing machines may use up to 14 percent of
the water in a home. ~ost \vashers u."'€' 32 to 59
gallons of water per cyde, depending on the size of
the load.
Washing machines with adjustable \vater levels
allow consumers to u."'€' onlv the amount of water
they need to wash their clothes. If a machine does
not have adjustable water levels, only full loads
should be washed.
Wash only full loads in dishwashers too, TIley
u.~ about 20 gallons of water per cycle. \1Vhen shop-
ping for ne\.... dishwashers, colliumers should con-
sider an energy-saving model, which uses 2..S-30
10

percent less water and also requires less electricity
Following these simple tips, conservation-con-
scious consumers can save a lot of water, and re- e
duce stress on their water systems.

Water Suppliers
Express Concern
~ 11) - Rural and small public drinking water
suppliers support public health protection for water
supplies, but are concerned with what their con-
sumers will pay and the level of protection they will
receive for the cost. "
The National Rural Water Association reports that
the EPA estimates that current federal regulations
will require o\'er $260 million annually to fund en-
forcement by state agencies, and that $14.6 billion in
capital expenditures will be required.
Nationally, 51,.196 water systems serve popula-
tions of less than 3;300. These systems make up 87
percent of all public water suppliers.
To meet ne\"; regulations, small systems will re-
quire $8.6 billion to build and install water treat-
ment processes, TI1.is translates into an expense of
over $340 per person in these small commw1ities.
Consumers will also have to bear other costs as-
5OCi.ated with federal mandates, including the cost e
of initial testing, whid, is estimated at 510.000 per
water source.
Because of the economies of scale, small commu-
nities will require financial assistance to meet regu-
latory mandates which become effective in 1993.
in meetings with Congressional representatives,
utilities are <1Sking that funding for the initial roW1d
of testing be provided at the federal level, and that
construction grant funds be made available.

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.

. CRWA Training Seminar :
. at Gunnison .
. .
. SeI,tember 10, 1992 .
.............. ...................

<I> GEl Consultants, lne,

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