Summer is quickly approaching and we are gearing towards another high-usage water month. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), water demand is 2-4 times higher during the summer than it is the rest of the year. This summer, we want to encourage San Jose residents to be mindful of water conservation. Playing around water and using it to cool off is great, but there are still ways to be water smart. Here’s a quick guide to some water smart summer activities that you may enjoy.

 

Hoses & Sprinklers - Hoses and sprinklers may be the easiest way to cool your family  off during the summer, however, both use a lot of water. Luckily, there are several high-efficiency spray nozzles for your hose and timers for your sprinklers that can help conserve water and reduce costs.

 

Summer Project - Fun, water saving projects around the house can go a long way when it comes to conserving water. Activities like creating a rainwater barrel or teaching your kids how to take care of water wise plants are great ways to learn how to use water responsibly.  Fun tip - You can use your rainwater barrel to make water balloons!

 

Pools - If you have one or decide to purchase a pool to keep cool during the summer, make sure that it’s equipped with a lid or cover to help keep water evaporation to a minimum. Also, keeping the water level in your pool a little lower helps reduce water loss from splashing and playing around in the pool.

 

As you can see, conserving water this summer does not stop you from having fun and keeping cool . More importantly, you can turn a successful water conservation summer into a year-round routine that protects our most precious resource.