VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
As Independence Day approaches and summer heat and activities are in full swing, New Jersey American Water is offering tips to customers to help avoid the water overuse pitfalls that frequently happen this time of year. These tips and insights are designed to help customers save money while alleviating stress on water supplies and infrastructure in the heat of summer.
“Flower and vegetable gardens, swimming pools and kiddie pools, car washes and rinsing off sandy feet before heading indoors—all the activities that go hand-in-hand with summer, also go hand-in-hand with increased water use and water waste,” said Kevin Kirwan, vice president of Operations, New Jersey American Water. “Unfortunately, a large number of consumers don’t think about this ‘in the moment.’ Instead, the reality hits when they get a higher water bill a couple of months later. Our goal is to raise people’s awareness and help them be proactive before the damage is done.”
New Jersey American Water wants to remind people of the value and finite supply of water, while empowering them with tips they can use every day to reduce usage and save money. New Jersey American Water’s summer wise water tips include:
- Reuse it. Use water from rain barrels and kiddie pools for watering lawn and gardens.
- Embrace the bucket! Instead of using a running hose, use water contained in a bucket for washing cars and pets, and rinsing sandy/grassy feet.
- Timing is everything. Only water during the coolest parts of the day (early morning or evening) to minimize evaporation. Also, be aware of which plants don’t need to be watered every day.
- Rain delay. Watch weather forecast to avoid “Mother Nature” re-watering your garden, which could also damage plants.
- Pick your plants wisely. Purchase varieties that require less water and remain hearty in drier weather. And don’t forget to mulch (only 2-3”) to help with water retention.
- Be a leak detective. Find and fix leaks and breaks in hoses, sprinkler systems and pipes. For help, download New Jersey American Water’s Leak Detection Kit at newjerseyamwater.com under Water Information.
- Raise the blade. Raise the level of your lawnmower blade to avoid lawn burnout and the need for watering.
- Keep an eye out. Watch your sprinkler’s “sweep” to make sure all the water is reaching vegetation that needs it and not the pavement! Check this frequently in case a person or animal has accidentally redirected your sprinkler.
“We’re encouraging people to be smart about their water usage. By following these summer wise water usage tips, we want to help customers understand the common sense of using water responsibly and begin to make year-round water conservation practices a part of every-day life,” said Kirwan.
More tips and information on wise water use are available on New Jersey American Water’s website at www.newjerseyamwater.com.
In addition, the company wants to remind lower income customers that they may qualify to receive assistance in paying their water bill through New Jersey American Water’s H2O Help to Others Program. For more information, visit the Customer Service and Billing page on the company’s website, or call the company’s program partner, New Jersey Shares, toll-free at 1-877-NJAWH2O (1-877-652-9426).
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.7 million people. More information can be found at www.newjerseyamwater.com. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. The company employs 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
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