waterSmart Tips For the Environment and Wallets

The Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority's waterSmart educational program has released a series of water conservation tips designed to change small daily habits that will have a dramatic effect not only on the environment, but also on your utility bills.

waterSmart offers up these tips to see savings and help conserve water:

• Fix leaky toilets and faucets. Fixing just one leaky faucet in your home can save more than 20,000 gallons of water per year, or more than $70.

• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and washing your hands. This can save up to nine gallons of water each time you brush and more than 22,000 gallons a year for a reduction of approximately $77 on your water bill total.

• Run your washing machine with full loads to maximize efficiency and save up to 700 gallons of water per month for a total savings of about $29 per year.

• Cuting down on shower time by five minutes can save the average family 21,000 gallons of water per year, or $74. In addition, installing a low-flow showerhead will reduce water usage by 50% compared to a normal showerhead. This easy to install device can also save you up to 21,000 gallons of water a year for an additional water bill saving of about $74 per year.

"By implementing simple water conservation habits, people can reduce their water bill as well as ensure a sustainable supply of fresh water now and in the future." - Becky Mixon, waterSmart program director.

For more information on how to conserve water, visit www.waterSmart.net.