(Little Rock)—The current period of drought and high temperatures has resulted in public
water systems in the state experiencing very high water demands. In many cases, public
water systems have had to request that their customers observe water conservation
measures such as lawn watering on alternating days, etc. The Arkansas Department of
Health (ADH) is urging compliance with water conservation requests made by public water
systems during these summertime peak water demand periods.
According to Jeff Stone, director of the Engineering section at ADH, compliance will help to
ensure that the public water systems will be able to meet the needs for vital purposes such as
drinking water and fire protection. “Wise use of water by individual customers can make a
dramatic difference in whether shortages are experienced,” Stone said.
The following is a list of water saving measures for homeowners to cut water usage.
• Comply with water conservation guidelines that your water system may request or require such as watering on
alternate days.
• Water your lawn only when it needs it. Deep soak the lawn rather than sprinkling lightly which tends to evaporate
quickly.
• Water during the cool part of the day such as early morning.
• Don’t waste water on gutters, driveways, and sidewalks.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will hold moisture longer and slow evaporation.
• Use automatic dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.
• Don’t let the faucet run when cleaning vegetables or washing dishes. Rinse them in a stoppered sink or pan of
clean water.
• Don’t let the water continuously run when brushing your teeth or shaving.
• 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 drips or leaks.
• Use a broom to clean sidewalks—not a hose.
• Take a quick shower instead of a big bath.
• Install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors.
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