SAVING AND PROTECTING WATER

Long Island's water is a very precious resource.  100% of its potable water comes from underground aquifers.  We are also surrounded by local bays, streams, lakes and oceans.  Saving and protecting this resource is important to all of the humans and wildlife that utilize it for survival.  It is vital that we do our best to conserve water and prevent it from becoming polluted.  

Here are some simple ways you can help!

• Purchase WaterSense labeled products like faucets, toilets, and showerheads, which use 20% less water than standard fixtures
  
• Water your yard before 10 AM or after 4 PM so water isn’t wasted due to evaporation
• Don’t leave the faucet running while brushing your teeth or washing the dishes
• Take quick showers instead of baths
• Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until water is cold
• Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin and use a brush instead of letting the faucet run
• Thaw foods in the refrigerator overnight instead of running them under water
• Scrape dishes, instead of rinsing, before putting them in the dishwasher
• Repair leaks in faucets, toilets and outdoor hoses and irrigation systems
• Grass doesn’t need to be bright green year round and cutting back on watering will reduce stress on the local water supply
• Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems for your plants
• Install moisture/rain sensors on sprinkler systems
• Consider landscaping with plants that require less water and are better suited to your local climate, like native plants, which also provide food and habitat for wildlife
• Use a rain barrel to capture rain water that can be used for irrigation
• Use mulch around plants to reduce evaporation from the soil as well as weed growth
• If you leave grass longer when mowing the longer grass blades help to shade each other, reduce evaporation and inhibit weed growth
• Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing them off
• Wash your car with a bucket of water or use a commercial car wash that recycles water
• Cover your pool to reduce evaporation when it is not in use
• Avoid using pesticides or fertilizers, which can pollute our drinking water and local waterbodies
• Don’t flush chemicals or medications down the drain or toilet
• Don’t put anything down storm drains except water
• Consider installing a rain garden to capture stormwater on you property and help replenish our drinking water underground