June 7, 2006

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            Town staff members calculate the impact of 3,500 lots at a water savings of 75 gallons per day could shave 262,500 gallons off the peak day demand for water.

            What if the town restricted residential building lots to 8,000 square feet or less?

            Because that restriction would reduce the amount of outdoor watering, the savings would be about 50,000 gallons per day off the peak demand.

            What if you turn off the water when you brush your teeth?

            OK, that would only reduce the peak demand by 35 gallons, but what if everyone did it?

            In July the Wake Forest commissioners will pick and choose from a list of possible water conservation requirements the staff has proposed in an effort to cut the peak day use and extend the town’s water allocation until the spring of 2010. At that time, Raleigh will increase the allocation by 4 percent over the previous year’s peak use and continue that through 2020.

            The tactics include using the education program “Water – Use It Wisely” to encourage town residents to monitor their own water use in simple but effective ways. Other than turning off the water while brushing your teeth, those include

• Run dishwasher or washing machine only when full – saves 35 gpd

• Use a broom to clean driveway or walk – saves 80 gallons a time

• Keep showers to five minutes or less – 35 gpd for a family of four

• Put food coloring in toilets to detect leaks – saves 20 gpd

• Fix a leaky faucet – saves 20 gpd

• Install a low-flow shower head – saves 85 gpd for a family of four

• Turn off the water when you shave – saves 20 gpd

• Turn off the water when you shampoo/condition your hair – saves 30 gpd

• Replace a shrub with a low water use plant – saves 550 gallons per year

• Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water to wash your car – saves 100 gallons/time

            Many of the proposed requirements would affect only existing homes or businesses because the town is contemplating requiring a number of water-saving appliances or devices in new homes and businesses.    

            The list the town staff proposed include

            -- A rebate of $1,000 for installing an approved rainwater catching system that could save 30,000 gallons

            -- A rebate of $100 to anyone installing an approved high-efficiency washing machine or dishwater that could save 3,000 gallons off the peak.

            -- A rebate of $100 to anyone installing a point-of-use hot water heater that could save 3,000 gallons off the peak.

            -- Using only pressurized automatic or drip irrigation systems that could save 78,750 gallons.

            -- Using drought-tolerant native plants for landscaping could save 40,000 gallons.

            -- Using bio-retention areas in at least one area of new developments to catch water from stormwater pipes before they discharge into the buffer could save 6,000 gallons.

            -- A rebate of up to $5 for anyone installing an approved faucet aerator on an existing faucet could save 42,200 gallons.

            -- A rebate of up to $10 for anyone replacing an old shower head with an approved low-flow shower head could save 17,400 gallons.

            -- A rebate of up to $7 will anyone installing an approved toilet flapper that replaces a rubber flapper could save 8,000 gallons. 

            The commissioners asked for a list of the drought-tolerant plants and for a ballpark idea of the cost of the suggested appliances.

            “Is there a reason why wells (for outside irrigation) were not put on this list?” Commissioner Margaret Stinnett asked.

            No, she was told. “We allow wells,” Town Manager Mark Williams said. “We encourage them,” Deputy Town Manager Roe O’Donnell said, and they especially encourage them for commercial buildings and for subdivisions where a lot of homes will use irrigation systems.

             The town already offers rebates to new and established electric customers who install new electric hot water heaters and heat pumps, provided the owners agree for the appliances to be load-managed at peak times. The rebates are $100 for hot water heaters and $250 for heat pumps.

            O’Donnell said in a memo that ElectriCities has confirmed the types and amounts of the rebates are still appropriate. “We were also told that few of our sister ElectriCities offer both water heater and heat pump rebates.”