by Ronna Sweeney, KUAM News Monday, February 11, 2008 Subscribe to Ronna's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

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Water is something none of us can live without. And the tips you'll get tonight won't only help you be less wasteful with your H2O, but they could also help to lower your water bill. Guam Waterworks Authority spokesperson Heidi Ballendorf says the utility agency admittedly has a water loss problem higher than the national average. "Normally you lose about 20% of the water you collect," she stated. "Right now we're probably running about 40%. We've reduced it. It was higher."

Ballendorf states that GWA field workers are aggressively trying to detect leaks with advanced equipment, especially down south in the villages of Santa Rita and Agat. She adds that homeowners too should be equally assertive in fixing leaks in their own homes. "You want to go around, and if means getting a plumber, I would recommend one to find out where the leaks may be. That's first and foremost...I think our customer service rep says a half-gallon a leak a minute is $70 more on your water bill a month."

Once leaks are repaired, now it's time to look at other ways to save. Helpful hints include using a broom instead of a hose to clean your walkway or driveway (which saves around 150 gallons or more every time); capture rainwater to use on houseplants or in the garden; and only run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher (this could potentially save you a whopping 300-800 gallons per month).

"For brushing your teeth you definitely have to shut the water off," Ballendorf said.

Even more simple water saving tips include watering your plants or lawn late in the day to reduce evaporation as well as using a shut-off nozzle on hoses when you wash your car. And if you can, look at using energy star appliances or water saving showerheads or flow restrictors. Fixtures like those can save as many as 800 gallons of water each month. "Old homes still consume a lot of water, so if you can get plumbing, that is water conservation. From the shower head to the flushing of the toilet, you can get those now at Home Depot or Benson's. Try to work on that as well," she recommended.

So if you choose to implement just one or several of these tips, just remember sometimes it's the smallest changes that can really make a big difference.