LCSA Offers Water Tips and Facts as Part of National Drinking Water Week

Leesburg – National Drinking Water Week officially begins today. In honor of the week, the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority would like to take the opportunity to remind residents about their drinking water.

“Drinking Water Week reminds us that good drinking water is a partnership between LCSA and our customers,” said Samantha Villegas, LCSA manager of communications. “By making simple changes in our daily routines, we can all contribute to managing this resource.”


Only one percent of the earth’s water is available for human consumption and yet, according tothe latest U.S. Geological Survey, the United States uses 408 billion gallons a day. On theindustrial level, numerous water-saving technologies have been employed to help conservewater. And while strong progress has been made, there are several simple steps that consumerscan take to help conserve and protect our water supply.

Water lawns early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation.
Fully load the dishwasher and clothes washer before running them.
Protect source water by “scooping the poop” and not pouring oil or antifreeze down the storm drain.
Use a backflow prevention device to prevent non potable water from flowing back into the plumbing system or public water system. With 873 miles of water main owned and maintained by LCSA, an inexpensive backflow prevention device for the outdoor spigot can help keep the water flowing in the right direction.
Report suspicious activities near fire hydrants to the Loudoun County Sheriff.
“There are nearly 52,000 residential customers within our service area. If everyone takes these steps, we can all feel confident that we are doing our part,” said Villegas.

Getting Quality Water to Your Tap
Here are some statistics on the effort required to get 7 billion gallons of water to LCSA’s more than 150,000 customers over the course of a year.

It takes 331,500 hours of work annually
Inspection of 388,902 feet of new water and sewer main
7,700 hydrants tested and inspected
73,675 work orders completed
993,175 miles driven
3,782 water quality tests completed
60,000 phone calls answered
215,000 bills rendered


About Drinking Water Week
For more than 30 years, local water providers and their communities have celebrated Drinking Water Week. It is a time to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives, to inform citizens about safe drinking water practices, and to provide tips on water conservation and safety. 

                                                                

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