By Peggy Carroll
Remember all those sunny, rainless days this summer and early fall?
Now it’s payback time.
That lack of rainfall has led to a deteriorating water supply. And Bob Martin, commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, has placed 14 of the state’s counties under a drought warning.
Morris County, says Laura Cummings, executive director and chief engineer of the Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, is among them.
And the authority, which supplies water to Morristown, Morris Township, Morris Plains and Hanover Township, is joining with the state in calling on residents to practice voluntary water conservation.
According to the weather figures furnished by the state, Cummings said, the Morristown area recorded rainfall of 8.1 inches during the last 90 days. And that is 4.9 inches below average.
While the ground water is in reasonably good shape, she said, the level at the Clyde Potts Reservoir is below the five-year average.
The drought warning designation, the first in 15 years, allows the DEP to closely monitor reservoir systems by directing water transfer among systems, controlling releases from reservoirs and modifying the rate of flow in streams and rivers in order to balance ecological protection and needs of water suppliers.
The last warning in 2001 subsequently grew into an emergency as drought conditions worsened. It continued into late 2002 and early 2003.
No one knows, Commissioner Martin said in a statement, how long the current situation will persist or if precipitation in the next few months will make up for the dry spell.
So it’s wise to take steps to preclude more serious problems down the road.
“It is vital that every resident and business to step up efforts to voluntarily reduce water use in hopes of averting another emergency and mandatory restrictions,” Martin said.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Cummings noted that residents can help conserve water through simple changes in the way they use water. Because of the seasonal change, the emphasis right now is on indoor usage.
The way water is used within the house can make a huge difference, she said.
First, she said, look for leaks. Shut off all devices in your home that use water, then locate your water meter and check the leak indicator to see if its moving.
The leak indicator could be a small triangular shaped dial or a small wheel that rotates when water is flowing through the meter. If the dial is moving, you may have a leak.
Walk through your house listening for running toilets and looking for drips.
Find out if your toilet is leaking silently by placing 12 drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If color shows up in the toilet bowl after 10 minutes without flushing, you have a leak. Once you finish, flush a few times so you don’t stain the toilet.
Many of the leaks, like a dripping faucet, can be fixed with some ease. More complicated ones may necessitate a call to your plumber.
Turn off faucets tightly – and do not let water run.
UPDATE EQUIPMENT
Consider replacing old equipment (like toilets, dishwashers and laundry machines) for more water efficient models.
This can be highly effective, Cummings said. Remodeling her home, she said, cut her water usage from the average of 300 gallons a day to 125.
IN THE KITCHEN
When cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water.
Fill your sink or basin when washing and rinsing dishes.
Only run the dishwasher when it’s full. When buying a new dishwasher, select one with a “light-wash” option.
Only use the garbage disposal when necessary (composting is a great alternative).
Install faucet aerators. This, the DEP says, can save 16,000 gallons a year.
IN THE BATHROOM
Take short showers instead of baths.
Turn off the water to brush teeth, shave and soap up in the shower. Fill the sink to shave.
Repair leaky toilets. (Use the food coloring trick described above.)
Install faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads. Replacing shower heads can save 7,700 gallons a year.
Replacing an old toilet with a slow-flow model can save 11,000 gallons a year.
LAUNDRY
Run full loads of laundry.
When purchasing a new washing machine, buy a water saving model that can be adjusted to the load size.
OUTDOORS
This time of year, lawns are dormant, so watering them is not a concern.
Be sure to turn off automatic timers on sprinkler systems.
Use a broom to sweep off walks, rather than a hose.
Wash vehicles using a bucket – or take them to a car wash that recycles water.
And perhaps, change your attitude towards the weather.
Don’t complain when it rains; give thanks.
