Regional Water Conservation

The central Puget Sound has a strong conservation ethic, and members of the Water Supply Forum have been committed to wise water use for decades. Although the water supply is ample in our region, there is never so much water that we can afford to waste it. We need water for every aspect of our lives – today and in the future.

Water customers served by Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett should be proud of the fact that we collectively use less water today than we did 30 years ago, despite significant population growth. Effective conservation efforts delay the need for water providers to find new, expensive sources of drinking water – this is good for both the environment and our wallets.

EVERYONE CAN HELP CONSERVE WATER

Small changes can make a big difference if we work together. Imagine the amount of water we could save if every household, business, and school in our region installed water-efficient fixtures and appliances, fixed leaks, and practiced smart watering and irrigation. There are many simple things you can do to save water¹, such as:

• Turning off the tap when you brush your teeth in the morning and at bedtime, which saves four to eight gallons of water every time you brush.
• Taking a shower instead of a bath.
• Fixing a leaky toilet, which can save up to 200 gallons per day.
• Watering your garden in the morning to allow your plants to better absorb the water, instead of watering in the middle of the day when it’s hotter and the water will more quickly evaporate.

¹ www.epa.gov/watersense