April is National Water Conservation month. This is particularly important in South Florida where we are experiencing the driest “dry season” in 80 years. What can we do to observe Water Conservation Month and to conserve water all year long?
First and most important, follow the emergency Water Shortage Order effective March 26th: “A two-day-a-week schedule for residential landscape irrigation throughout the District. Helping to relieve impacts on surface and groundwater sources, the order provides consistency for the District’s 7.7 million residents. It is also consistent with Florida’s neighboring water management districts and municipalities that are currently following a two-day watering schedule. Landscape irrigation accounts for half of all potable (drinking) water use in South Florida.” http://www.miamidade.gov/wasd/library/sfwmd_water_shortage.pdf
Exchange your standard showerhead for a high-efficiency water saving shower hear and reduce the water demand by at least 50%. It’s FREE! http://www.miamidade.gov/wasd/showerhead.asp
Replace your old toilet with a WaterSense-certified high-efficiency toilet (HET) and get up to a $50 rebate from Miami-Dade County. http://www.miamidade.gov/conservation/toilet_rebate.asp
Attend this month’s Rain Barrel Workshop on April 16 at Crandon Park starting at 1:00 p.m. The workshop is free and you can pre-register to purchase your own rain barrel for just $40. http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/environment/natural_resources.shtml
Get a FREE landscape irrigation evaluation and get rebates up to $400 per year (for a total of $1,200 per property) for recommended retrofits to make your irrigation system more water efficient. http://www.miamidade.gov/conservation/landscape_evaluation.asp
Participate in one of the many 2011 Baynanza events throughout Miami-Dade County. The annual Baynanza is a six-week calendar of clean-up days and environmental events that celebrate the Biscayne Bay and its surroundings. In addition to the famous Biscayne Bay Clean Up Day on April 16th, there are about 30 additional clean-up sites and many other events including a Bay Cruise on April 17 or an Eco Bike Tour on April 23, both at Deering Estates. http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/baynanza.asp
Let me know what you do for National Water Conservation Month!