WATER - Our Quality Resource!
Water is a vital
resource and its use is increasing. Each year, American families use
between 50,000 to 200,000 gallons of water. The average person uses
about 60 gallons of water per day. As the demands on water continue to
grow, but its supply remains finite, it is in everyone’s best interest
to learn how to use this precious resource wisely.
How much water do you use? Following are some suggestions on how you can
use water wisely and save on your water bill without any great
inconvenience.
- Check
household faucets and showerheads periodically for leaks. Most leaks
result from worn washers in faucets or showerheads and can be easily
repaired with the advice of a good do-it-yourself book. Little leaks can
add up quickly. A faucet drip that totals only two tablespoons a minute
comes to 15 gallons per day. That’s nearly 2,000 gallons or 7.600 liters
of wasted water a year.
- Don’t let water run while
shaving or brushing teeth. Doing this wastes about 5 gallons or 19
liters a minute.
- The toilet is one of the most
common water wasters but tends to be less noticeable than a dripping
faucet. To determine if your toilet is leaking, look at the bowl after
the tank has stopped filling. If water is still running into the bowl,
or if water can be heard running, your toilet is leaking and should be
repaired.
- Run your dishwasher full
because it will use the same amount of water for a normal cycle, whether
it contains a full load of dishes or just a few items. The average
automatic dishwater uses 9-12 gallons of water while hand washing dishes
can take up to 20 gallons.
- Select the appropriate water
level for the size of your load when doing laundry. Most washers have
preset water levels for small, medium and large loads. Laundry averages
17 gallons of water per person per day.
- Instead of hosing down your
property, sweep outside with a broom. Just 5 minutes of hosing wastes
some 25 gallons of water. Also, check outside taps for leaking water,
particularly during the summer sprinkling season. A hose left dribbling
in the garden can waste thousands of gallons over the course of a
summer.
- Water your lawn before 10 a.m.
and never when it is windy. Typically, 50-70% of household water is used
on lawns and gardens.
- We hope you find these tips
helpful. Should you have any questions regarding your water usage,
please feel free to call us at (732) 634-1500. We will be happy to
assist you.
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Locating Your Master Valve
The master valve is probably
the most important piece of your internal plumbing system. It controls
the flow of water throughout your home.
You and everyone in your household should know where it is and be able
to locate it in a moment’s notice. In case of an emergency, you cannot
afford to waste time searching for the valve. You must be able to locate
and operate it immediately.
If your property is going to
be unoccupied for a long period of time, you might want to consider
shutting the valve off to avoid or minimize any water emergencies during
your absence. In addition, a plumber can drain your lines if the house
will be subjected to below freezing temperatures.
The most probable locations
for the master valve are:
· Where the water supply pipe enters your home
· At the meter, if it is inside your home
Once you have found the master
valve, confirm that it is the correct valve by shutting it off to see if
all the water faucets in your home also shut off. If they do not, resume
your search.
When you find the right valve,
make it more visible by marking it with a brightly colored tag, ribbon
or paint so that you, or anyone else, can find it easily during an
emergency. If you have an emergency and cannot shut off your master
valve, call Middlesex Water Company’s emergency number for help.
Have You Checked Out Your
Curb Box Lately?
While tending to your
lawn, you may have noticed a 4" wide circular curb box with the word
"Water" printed on top. Knowing the location of this box is important
because it allows our crews access to the shut off valve in case of a
water emergency. Over time, this box can rise or sink a few inches
causing a potential problem as you mow your lawn. The curb box cover may
become loose or may get damaged or broken. If you’ve noticed any of
these problems with your curb box, please call our Customer Service
Department at (732) 634-1500 so that we can make the necessary repairs.
There is no charge for this service.
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