How to Conserve Your Well Water During a Drought
Lately, the Raleigh area has been noticeably drier than normal. In fact, much of Western and Central North Carolina, including parts of Wake and Chatham Counties, and all of Granville, Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties are in a moderate drought.
A moderate drought means that in addition to dry grass and stress on crops and gardens, the stream flow is reduced and levels at nearby lakes and reservoirs begin to decline. When conditions are this dry, it's recommended, though not mandatory, to conserve water. If your home relies on well water, it's especially important during dry conditions to reduce your water usage. While it's not likely that your well will run dry, you don't want to put undue stress on your well pump or worry about your water storage tanks running dry.
To help ensure that you always have water, our well pump repair and replacement specialists are sharing ways to conserve your water.
Well Water Conservation Starts in the Bathroom
Almost three quarters of your home's water usage takes place in your bathroom, according to the EPA. Of that usage, 41 percent is taken up through flushing the toilet and 33 percent is bathing, while the other 26 percent of bathroom water usage divided between hand washing and brushing teeth.
Use some of these simple ways to reduce how much of your well water is used in the bathroom:
- Place a brick, large rock, or an old water or pop bottle filled with sand or water in your toilet tank. The weight displaces a bit of water, requiring less to fill it. This can save up to a half a gallon of water each time you flush your toilet, without hindering waste removal.
- Repair any dripping faucets - a drip of about 1 drop per second can waste almost 3,000 gallons of water per year!
- Install a faucet aerator on older faucets to reduce your water volume without minimizing your water pressure and take your water usage from as much as seven gallons a minute down to 1.5.
- Remember to turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave.
Simple Ways to Conserve Well Water in the Kitchen
While most of the water usage is in the bathroom, your kitchen is probably the next highest spot for water usage. Keep the conservation going with these tips:
- Continue with the water aerators in the kitchen!
- Soak pots and pans instead of scrubbing them under running water.
- Use the dishwasher instead of hand-washing, just make sure it's completely before running it.
- Don't use running water to defrost your food, use the microwave instead.
Reducing Outdoor Water Usage
In the fall, you're probably not too worried about watering your garden or keeping the grass watered, which makes it easy to conserve your well water. However, because the grass and brush is dry, you'll also want to avoid burning any leaves to avoid having to use any water to put out fires. Plus, burning is more risky during drought as sparks could easily set off brush fires.
Make Sure Your Well Is Efficient
Having a well pump that is running efficiently can help your storage tank to fill more quickly, while regular well testing can determine how many gallons per hour your well is producing. By working with a company who specializes in well pumps, you can manage your well during a drought more easily and prevent running out of water.
Contact Us for Raleigh Well Pump Testing and Service
Don't wait until dry weather gets too severe, contact A&T Well and Pump today to check and make sure your well pump and storage units can handle a drought. Reach out to us today at 919-291-4063 or fill out our form to learn more!
