Water Saving Tips for Homeowners in Cochise County

Cool rules

If you want to save water and operate your cooler efficiently, here are the cool rulesthat should rule your cooler operation and maintenance:

• Be brave, delay turning on your cooler until the outside temperature reaches 85 degrees rather than turning it on when it is 79 degrees. You will use 50% less water.
• Turn on the water pump a few minutes before turning on the fan. This saturates the pads first, making your cooler more efficient.
• Open a window a crack in the rooms you are cooling. This will draw the cooled air through these spaces.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate air within your home.
• In the evenings, operate your cooler fan without the water pump. Cool air will be moved through your house without using any water.
• Install a thermostat so your cooler can be as water-wise and energy-wise as possible.

Spring cleaning

• Uncover your cooler, remove the panels and clean out any debris in the water pan at the bottom.
• Check the motor's fan belt tension. When pressed it should move about one half inch. Lightly oil the bearing on the blower assembly and the motor if it has an oil receptacle.
• Install new cooler pads. Aspenwood fiber pads are a good choice, or follow manufacturer's recommendations.
• Reconnect the water line and turn on the water supply. Check the float valve and make sure it is operating properly. If necessary, adjust the float arm by bending it.
• Switch on the cooler motor and recirculating pump, making sure the cooler pads are being evenly saturated with water. Look for split seams in the casement, or rusted areas in the tray, which could cause a leak.

Mid-summer checkup

• Check the water level in the bottom tray. It should be about one inch below the top of the tray, and below the top of the overflow pipe. If the water level is too high or too low, adjust the float arm.
• Make sure your float valve is working properly. If the valve sticks, the water will run continuously, causing water to overflow the tray and be wasted. Adjust your float arm and, if that doesn't fix the problem, install a new float valve or call a cooler specialist.
• Check all other working parts, including the pump, motor and fan belt.
• Check the condition of the cooler pads. The cleaner the pads, the more efficient the cooler. If they have a heavy accumulation of mineral deposits, replace them.
• Some coolers have a "bleed-off valve" to drain the recirculating water to prevent excessive mineral buildup. Make sure the valve is adjusted properly to drain no more water than is necessary. Check your manufacturer's recommendations for best results.

Winterize

• When the weather begins to cool, it is time to winterize your evaporative cooler. If you do these few simple things, you will minimize your cooler problems in the spring when the hot weather hits.
• Get rid of minerals in the bottom tray. Vinegar can be used to dissolve the buildup.
• Clean out the tray at the bottom of the cooler. Drain the water and gently scrape it out.
• Inspect the water trough for clogged holes, clean as necessary.
• Thoroughly dry the tray and inspect it for signs of cracking.
• Coat the entire tray with submarine sealer or another product to prevent rust.
• To prevent freezing of the cooler's water line, disconnect the water line from the cooler and blow out the water.
• Cover your cooler to protect it and to keep cold air out of your house.

Did you know that 75% of your in-home water use occurs in the bathroom? The following practices can save you up to 20,000 gallons of clean, drinkable water per year.

"On-demand" recirculation pumps

If it takes "forever" for your hot water to reach the faucet, consider installing an "on-demand" hot water recirculation pump. When you press a remote switch conveniently located in the house, the small recirculation pump turns on and the cold hot water recirculates back to the hot water tank where it is reheated. The pump will automatically shut off when the hot water reaches the desired temperature. Within less than a minute, hot water will be ready for your use - with no wasted water!

Per plumbing codes, "on-demand" pumps are the only pumps that can be installed in homes without a dedicated hot water return pipe. For homes with a dedicated hot water return pipe, recirculation pumps on timers are also permissible. Energy costs can actually go down for homes that install "on-demand" recirculation pumps (because less water needs heating), yet homes with recirculation pumps on timers can use more energy (because energy is needed to keep the circulating hot water in the tank hot over the duration of the pump cycle, and the electrical cost of longer pump run times).

The "on-demand" pump is easily installed under a sink and can be installed by a homeowner. Inquire about them at your local plumbing or hardware store and search the internet for manufacturers and models.

Showers

Most showerheads that were manufactured before 1994 use 5 gallons per minute. After 1994, federal plumbing standards required showerheads to flow no more than 2.5 gallons per minute. In homes, some showerheads may have been converted from 5 gallons per minute to 2.5 gallons per minute by inserting a small plastic disk with a hole in it into the showerhead. This method has been received by the public with mixed satisfaction. If you have one in your showerhead and don't like it, replace the showerhead with a new one.

1.5 gallon per minute showerheads with great flows are now available on the market. Check the gadgets section for even more water savings.

If you like to take a bath, fill the tub 1/2 full or less. A full tub can hold more than 50 gallons of drinkable water.

Sinks

Check to make sure you have an aerator screwed into your faucet. There will be a screen on it and it has various reducing parts in it. If you take it apart to clean it, remember the order of the parts! Aerators reduce the water flow to 2.5 gallons per minute. If your sink drips, most likely washers are the culprits. Check Gadgets for more water savings.

Kitchen

The kitchen sink gets a lot of use - from washing dishes to rinsing out paintbrushes. Water quality is something to keep in mind as dirty water is going down the drain. Whether you have a septic or are on a sewage line- know what your system can handle. Dispose of inappropriate waste in the right place! Use your garbage disposal sparingly or start composting vegetable wastes- it makes great garden soil (especially if you use worms)!

If you use a dishwasher, make sure to wash a full load, or use the appropriate cycle.

If you hand wash dishes, use a bowl for sudsy water and one for rinse water. Turn off the water when it is not in use. See Gadgets for an easy way to do that!

Laundry

Washing machines can use as much as 41 gallons a load (top loaders) and as little as 12-15 gallons per load (horizontal or front loading washers). If you are in the market for a new washer, consider a front loader. They are very water efficient and many people report front loaders are easier on fabrics. An average American family can wash about 380 loads a year and can save more than 5,700 gallons of clean, drinkable water each year with a front loading washing machine. Check each model's water consumption when shopping for a new washer. If you don't wash a full load, be sure to set the water level for the size of your load, and cycle length.

Evaporative coolers

Even the remarkably efficient evaporative or "swamp" coolers most of us desert dwellers depend on have a down side. They use a great deal of water. Your cooler may use from 50 to 200 gallons per day. Be diligent in maintaining your cooler to be efficient. Turn on the pump before turning on the fan (to saturate the pads), be brave and wait to turn on the fan until the outside temperature reaches 85 degrees rather than 75 degrees. You will use 50% less water! If you have a water recycling swamp cooler (which are much more efficient than the older, single pass systems), do not put the drain-off water on plants as it is very high in minerals and can harm plants.

Water filters

There are various water filtering devices available from carbon filters to reverse osmosis systems. Reverse osmosis systems are an excellent way to remove unwanted contaminants from drinking water, but they waste 2-20 gallons of water for each gallon of processed water. When shopping for a filtering system, have your drinking water tested and decide which filtering system will satisfy your needs.

Water softeners

Water softening systems, "conditioners", or "treatment devices" eliminate undesirable minerals that make the water hard. During the softening process, "hardness" ions – mostly calcium and magnesium – are exchanged for "soft" sodium or potassium ions. Approximately 15-120 gallons of water are wasted for every 1,000 gallons softened. If you buy a water softener, consider bypassing the kitchen faucet where most drinking water comes from and separate outside faucets from the system so landscape plants do not get water high in sodium. If the outside faucets are connected to the softening system, use potassium as a softener as it will not "burn" plants like sodium.

Remember your habits!

Toilets are not wastebaskets or ashtrays, flush when you must, sing shorter songs in the shower, turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving (you can save 2-3 gallons per minute), insulate your hot water pipes and hot water heater, thaw frozen food in the refrigerator instead of under running water, wash full loads- either dishes or clothes and keep a cold pitcher of water in the 'fridge for drinking.

• A typical home uses twice as much water outside as inside. Landscaping contributes to a large use of this water. Install a low-water use landscaping called 'Xeriscape' for a green, colorful yard. 'Xeri' comes from the Greek word for 'dry.'
• Go Under Cover (your pool that is!) 40 gallons of water evaporates per square foot of open water in the Sierra Vista, Arizona area per year. If a pool is 400 square feet and is uncovered, it could be evaporating 16,000 gallons of water per year! A covered pool can save 15,246 gallons. So, cover it up!
• "Harvest" pool backwash for plants when chlorine levels are not greater than 3 ppm.
• Sweep Your Sidewalks. You can save 25-50 gallons of good drinking water by using a broom to clean sidewalks and driveways instead of a hose. Hoses can deliver 5 gallons of water a minute!
• Check for leaks in Hose Bibs: A leaking faucet can waste more than 73 gallons per day depending on the size of the leak. Turn off the water to the outside faucet- it may be at the meter, or it may be at a main valve shut off to the house. Unfortunately, many outside faucets are not made to have their washers replaced. However, you may be able to pack the stem. Contact your hardware store and ask. If you can't, you will have to replace the whole faucet. Unscrew the faucet from the pipe and replace the faucet with a new one.
• Mist Cooling Systems: A typical system uses 2 gallons of water per minute to cool 1,000 square feet of patio area or 720 gallons per 6 hour use, or 21,600 gallons of water each month. Only use the system when using the patio.
• Do you wash your car at home? There are waterless car wash products available that can make your car shine like a top! But if you wash with water - put an automatic shut off nozzle on your hose- and make sure it doesn't leak. If it does, it is usually a washer that needs replacing. Grab a bucket and towel, and see if you can keep water from going down your driveway! If your drive is sloped to drain to the side- or if you can wash your car on your lawn or graveled area, use a mild soap so you can water your plants while you wash the car!

There are several devices available to decrease the amount of water toilets, sinks and showers use.

Sink Flow Adjusters are available for sinks. They replace the aerator with one that slows the flow to a trickle with just a flip of the finger. These adjusters are an easy way to reduce the flow of water while brushing teeth, washing, shaving etc. They can be fancy or simple.

Shower Flow Reducers are easy to install too. It is a small valve you screw on between your showerhead and shower arm, with a button you push to reduce the flow while you lather up. You push the button back and your water returns full force- and the temperature remains as you originally set it.

Recirculation pumps are for those of you who are wasting a lot of water waiting for the hot water to arrive at the tap. These can be installed in a new home or as a retrofit. They circulate the hot water through the pipes for immediate delivery when you turn on the tap. Some retrofits fit under the sink and are easy enough to do for homeowner installation!

Ask at your local hardware or plumbing store for these handy gadgets!

How much water does your family use? You may measure your water use by how much you Spend on water, but what about Measuring Gallons Used? Your water bill shows how much water your property consumed each month, and probably shows how it compares with previous months. Go take a look. It is very helpful information - it could show you a silent thief is stealing your water. But before you get an unexpected high water bill, check for leaks. The best way is to familiarize yourself with your water meter. It is also important to locate your master valve in case of an emergency.

1. Turn off all water consuming appliances (ice maker, evaporative coolers, irrigation systems, etc.) and faucets.
2. Find the dial on your outside meter that has the smallest unit of measure. Note where the needle reads. The meter pictured here reads 1,739,622 gallons.
3. Read your meter again after 15-30 minutes. If the needle has moved, you have a leak. Some meters have a little red or black triangle that spins when water is being used and is a quick way to detect a leak.

To determine if the leak is indoors or out, turn off the valve to the house. If the needle or triangle continues to move, your leak is in-between the meter and the house. If the needle stops, then the leak is inside your house.

For more details on reading your meter, visit How to Read Your Meter atH₂OUSE and/or contact your water provider.

• Orient your house on the east-west axis to minimize hot summer west exposure.
• Ask your builder to only clear vegetation around the area needed for your house.
• Mark plants and areas that you want preserved.
• Salvage existing plants to reuse after construction.
• Ask your builder to not bury construction wastes on site.
• Locate the hot water heater closest to the most frequently used bathroom.
• Insulate hot water heater and pipes and wrap the house foundation.
• Install a recirculation hot water system.
• Ask your plumber to design the plumbing for optional gray water use.