DIY Rain Chain Workshop

July 24, 2022, 1-2:30 PM at the at Lake Thunderbird State Park Nature Center (1201 Clear Bay Ave):  DIY Rain Chain Workshop. Supplies will be provided for the first ten registrants. Registration: https://bit.ly/3bt0H3l

Clean-Up and Workshop

July 30, 2022, Love Your Lake Clean-up and Workshop at COMCD Offices 12500 Alameda Dr. registration https://bit.ly/3yZCE5r

Every drop counts! Here are some great tips for conserving water!

 

Bathrooms:

Never use your toilet as a waste basket.

Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.

Take short showers instead of tub baths. Turn off the water flow while soaping or shampooing.

If you must use a tub, close the drain before turning on the water and fill the tub only half full. Bathe small children together.

Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it -such as watering a plant or garden.

Kitchen and Laundry:

Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.

Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin. Use a vegetable brush.

Do not use water to defrost frozen foods, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Use a dishpan for washing and rinsing dishes.

Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher.

Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal

Operate the dishwasher only when completely full.

Use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.

Outside:

Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing off.

Wash the car with water from a bucket, or consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.

When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.

Avoid purchasing recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.

If you have a swimming pool, consider a new water-saving pool filter.

Lower pool water level to reduce amount of water splashed out.

Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation when pool is not being used

Equipment:

Repair all leaks. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. To detect leaks in the toilet, add food coloring to the tank water. If the colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking. Toilet repair advice is available at www.toiletology.com/index.shtml.

Install ultra-low flow toilets, or place a plastic container filled with water or gravel in the tank of your conventional toilet. Be sure it does not interfere with operation of the toilet’s flush mechanism.

Install low-flow aerators and showerheads.

Consider purchasing a high efficiency washing machine which can save over 50% in water and energy use.

 

Water Efficiency Measures for Landscaping

Watering:

Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems.

Use properly treated wastewater for irrigation where available.

Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best). Do not water on windy days.

Water trees and shrubs, which have deep root systems, longer and less frequently than shallow-rooted plants which require smaller amounts of water more often. Check with the local extension service for advice on the amount and frequency of watering needed in your area.

Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.

Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems.

Install moisture sensors on sprinkler systems.

Planting:

Have your soil tested for nutrient content and add organic matter if needed. Good soil absorbs and retains water better.

Minimize turf areas and use native grasses.

Use native plants in your landscape - they require less care and water than ornamental varieties.

Maintaining:

Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface and cut down on weed growth.

Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to the root zone.

Raise your lawn mower cutting height - longer grass blades help shade each other, cut down on evaporation, and inhibit weed growth.

Minimize or eliminate fertilizing which requires additional watering, and promotes new growth which will also need additional watering.

Ornamental Water Features:

Do not install or use ornamental water features unless they recycle the water. Use signs to indicate that water is recycled. Do not operate during a drought.

FOOD SERVICE STYROFOAM

Take out containers (clamshells), cups (without paper labels), bowls (that individual servings of beans, potato salad & slaw come in), etc., can be any color as long as they are "CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!"

 

"Clean" means no remaining FOOD, DRINK OR DIRT. What was in the cup or on the plate is unknown.

Stained items are "clean" if you can rub your thumb over the stained area and your thumb doesn't look shiny afterward. Some items may just need to be wiped with a napkin (sandwich crumbs). Others may need soap & water (chips and dip, spaghetti, refried beans, etc.).

We cannot put dirty foam in the densifier. It contaminates all other clean foam and makes it worthless. It makes the densifier sticky which causes crumbled foam to clump up and jam the machine.

PACKAGING FOAM

A Reminder: Foam packaging or food service products "break or snap in two" when bent. If foam bends, it's #4 plastic, not the #6 that can be recycled through densifying. Packaging foam must have all TAPE and PAPER LABELS REMOVED before recycling. Some foam may have cardboard backing that also needs to be removed.