Agri Leader

South Florida workshop teaches conservation tips

RODOLFO ROMAN
Published: September 19, 2012

Economic times are getting better, but anyone could benefit from saving an extra buck. A way to do so is at home by conserving water.

There is no question that conserving water will save a household cash.

Barbara McAdam, program assistant, Miami-Dade County Extension UF/IFAS/Extension-Florida Yards & Neighborhoods, said she saves about $400 a year for two people in a home. Doing the math, she said, anyone would enjoy additional money to spend on something else.

Conserving water is relatively easy, she added. Water can be saved inside and outside the home.

She leads a water conservation workshop in South Florida educating residents on the issue. The workshop is part of the Miami-Dade County's Office of Sustainability and Water & Sewer Department.

"At the workshop we teach water conservation inside and outside, how to set up and use your rain barrel," she said. "We will also take a peek at water conservation and a rain water harvesting system used throughout the world."

She added that daily water usage per person has increased over the years.

"Our daily water usage per person had been rising much beyond our national average of 100 gallons per person per day, and three to four times the average of countries like Great Britain, Germany, Brazil," she said. "Our usage has dropped but at 134 gallons per day is still not within range of the EPA target of 60 gallons per day per person.

Roughly 50 percent of daily water use is used on the landscape. Thus, homeowners need to use irrigation wisely.

To conserve water, avoid over-watering, make sure there are no leaks and install a rain sensor, she said. Creating a Florida-friendly landscape using low-maintenance and native plants also helps the cause.

Rain barrels also are very useful, which are brought to the workshop and may be purchased for $40. Rainwater can be used for anything such as cleaning patio furniture to windows or car washing. For plant life, rainwater is best.

Inside the house, precaution can be taken like detecting any leaks just like the outside. She advises to check for leaks on a monthly basis.

"One drop per second can add up to 3,154 gallons of clean drinking water down the drain in the course of a year," she said. Fixing showerheads and faucets to WaterSense labeled products can also help."

For more information on water conservation, visit www.greenyardsmiami.blogspot.com.