Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Water Conservation Is Urged To Relieve Drought

Although portions of the state have received rain periodically, the summer heat is taking its toll on Arkansas water supplies. Increased demands have many water systems struggling to maintain normal tank levels, making water conservation essential.

Arkansas Department of Health officials are urging all water customers to implement proper water conservation steps.

"The individual water customer can make the single greatest impact on a water system's ability to keep up with consumption," Harold R. Seifert, P.E., director of the Division of Engineering, said.

"Preventing water waste can make a dramatic difference in whether shortages are experienced," he said.

The Arkansas Department of Health offers the following water conservation tips:

• Watch for water alerts and fire bans.
• Water lawns and gardens only when needed. When watering, do it long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots.
• Water during the cool parts of the day, early morning is recommended. Make sure sprinklers are positioned so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas.
• Place a layer of mulch around frees and plants; mulch will hold moisture longer and slow evaporation.
• Use automatic dishwashers or washing machines only for full loads.
• Don't let the faucet run while cleaning vegetables or washing dishes. Rinse them in a stopped sink or pan of clean water.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running tap water to cool it off for drinking is wasteful.
• Check faucets, pipes and toilets for leaks.
• Install water saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Better yet, take baths instead of showers; a bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers.
• Put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles. Fill them with water and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from operating mechanisms. The bottles may displace and save an average of ten or more gallons of water a day.

For more information, contact Seifert at 501-661-2623.