Did you know that April is one of the driest months of the year in Florida? As the temperature begins to rise, so does the state’s water usage. In fact, statistics show that Floridians use about 136 gallons of water per person, every day – a number that needs to decrease. That’s why the month of April has been declared Water Conservation Month in the Sunshine State!
During April and every other month of the year, Kong Management Group encourages our residents to be water wise. There are so many ways that we can waste water without even noticing, and we’re here to help you learn how to be more mindful of your water usage. With these easy water-saving tips, you can put conservation efforts into action at home, in the garden, and even in the RV. You will not only be helping the environment, but you will also have the additional benefit of lower monthly water bills!
How to save water inside the home:
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or soaping up in the shower.
- Use a water-efficient showerhead and faucet aerators.
- Take shorter showers, aiming for ten-minutes max!
- Only run the washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load.
- Use the shortest washing cycle for lightly soiled clothes.
- Scrap your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher, instead of rinsing.
- If you are handwashing dishes, turn off the faucet when you scrub them.
- Make one-pot meals for fewer dishes to wash.
- Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water!
- Store a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator.
- Choose reusable water bottles.
- Check for leaks throughout your home, including your toilets, faucets, and pipes.
- Install a dual flush or low-flow toilet or put a conversion kit on your existing toilet.
- Monitor the water usage on your water bill.
- Ask your local government utilities department for a home water audit.
Outside, there are several simple things you can do to conserve water, including:
- Water your lawn only on the day designated to your area. (And only water in the early morning hours when it is the coolest!)
- Skip watering landscapes during or after rain.
- Use a hose nozzle to prevent water waste.
- Consider installing a rain barrel for outdoor watering.
- Plant a rain garden for catching stormwater runoff from your roof, driveway, and other hard surfaces.
- Wash your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a hose.
You can also take your water conservation efforts on the road if you have an RV. In addition to the tips above, RVers can also use the wastewater from sinks and showers, commonly called gray water, to flush the toilet. Since most RV tanks only hold about 40 to 50 gallons of water, using water wisely is especially important!
To save the most water (and the most money on water bills), we hope that you will use these tips to create water conservation strategies for your home. Conserving water really comes down to paying attention to how you use (and in some cases, misuse) water. By making sure there are no water leaks and being mindful of your water usage year-round, your conservation efforts benefit your household, your community, and the environment!
Kong Management Group is a full-service property management company, based in Tampa and serving West Central and South Florida. For our multi-family properties in Zephyrhills, we utilize Metron-Farnier’s Sustainable Services for submetering. The benefit of submetering is that it allows us to identify leaks and over-usage, helping to conserve water. We will continue to promote water saving efforts, and we hope that you will share what you are doing to saving water with your neighbors as well!
If you are interested in learning more about Kong Management Group’s water conservation practices or our portfolio of rental properties in Tampa Bay, Hallandale Beach, Zephyrhills, and Davie, Florida, please contact us at 866-499-9026 or email info@kongmg.com.
