Conservation

We view water conservation as not just a green ethic, we view it as an ethic. We see water as something that is merely borrowed from nature temporarily by people, and we aim to return it to nature in better shape than we got it, in close to the same quantity as we took it. While there are countless ways (here are 100 tips) to use water wisely, the number one thing you can do to help protect this resource is to not waste it.

More than 80 percent of our water system was built in the last decade, which means that internal plumbing fixtures are quite efficient and do not pose the greatest opportunities for conservation, though we hope our customers are mindful of how long they're in the shower and are running dishwashers and washing machines only when full.

The greatest opportunities for water savings in our service area come from lawn watering, which has been calculated at 65 percent of total use at worst and, we've seen evidence of overwatering as high as 60 percent. The problem is, most people either water at a schedule that's convenient for them, regradless of their lawn's need for water, or they just don't know how much water a lawn needs and how to deliver it most efficiently. For that reason, we offer the following tips and tools. Most importantly, we request that our customers follow a two-day per week watering schedule:

ODD Addresses: Wednesdays and Saturdays
EVEN Addresses: Thursday and Sundays
Commercial/Multi-Family Properties: Tuesdays and Fridays

This schedule has a number of benefits: It evenly distributes water use over a week's time, which helps extend the life of our assets, and it leaves Monday alone - a chance for storage tanks to refill after a weekend of heavy water use. If you are thinking of installing an irrigation system, be sure to choose a contractor that's Loudoun Water Preferred so you get a system that's designed by a certified irrigation contractor or designer, who is an EPA WaterSense Partner, who has received training from Loudoun Water and who is licensed to do business in Loudoun County. 

Irrigate smarter with tips from the Irrigation Association. July is officially Smart Irrigation Month, but their tips can be used during other months too.

You can cut down on lawn watering altogether with a landscape that minimizes the need for watering. We offer a free, color guide to water wise landscaping, which you can request by contacting us or you can download a copy. The guide helps calculate your water needs, timing and frequency and shares some ideas for landscaping that's lighter on your hose, your wallet and your back.

In case of drought or extremely dry weather, Loudoun Water follows the region's drought response plan.

We're also a member of EPA's WaterSense program. Visit their website to locate water-efficient products. View videos that we posted to help promote their campaign, Fix a Leak week. For tips on water-saving opportunities in each area of your home, visit this interesting site: www.H2ouse.org. Learn how to reduce your water footprint: H2O Conserve.

Learn more ways to save water.