Reports, Tips & FAQs

Water Conservation Tips for the Home

The Town of Morehead gets its water supply from five Wells and the daily water use for Morehead City is approximately 1,000,000 gallons per day. It is yours for the asking 24 hours a day. Water is a part of life, and water conservation is a good way of life. Let's practice it together!

Without counting lawn watering the typical percentages of water use for a family of four will be:

• Toilet Flushing 40%
• Laundry 14%
• Cooking and Drinking 5%
• Bath and Shower 32%
• Dishwashing 6%
• Bathroom Sink 3%

Two-thirds of the water used in the home will be used in the bathroom. To help conserve water there, here are a few tips:

• Old style toilets can use up to seven gallons of water, but by installing a low flow toilet you can conserve up to five gallons of water.(See our conservation change-out incentive policy)
• Placing a plastic bottle filled with water in the storage tank of an old style toilet can help to reduce water use.
• Toilets are notorious for their hidden leaks and can leak hundreds of gallons of water per day undetected. Most toilet leaks are at the overflow pipe or at the bottom flapper valve in the storage tank. The inlet valve should be adjusted to where the water stops approximately 1/2-inch below the overflow pipe. By placing a few drops of food coloring into the storage tank when full of clear water, you can see if you have a leak. Check your toilet for leaks at least once a month.
• Toilets should not be used as trash cans to flush away sanitary paper products, cigarette butts, spiders, or anything else that should go into the wastebasket.
• Most people think that showers use less water than a tub bath, but the fact is that a partially filled tub will use less water than a long shower.
• Most showers use five to ten gallons of water per minute, but by installing a low flow showerhead or restrictor you will use less than 2.5 gallons per minute. (See water conservation change-out incentive policy)
• While brushing you teeth, shaving, washing dishes, or even washing vegetables, if you leave the water running you will waste what one person needs for drinking for a week.
• Store a jug of water in the refrigerator instead of running water at the faucet when you want a cool drink of water.
• Wash only full loads of cloths and dishes when possible.
• Be a leak seeker and replace washers in faucets anytime you see drips.

For more information you can call 252-726-6848252-726-6848, ext. 122 or ext. 132, or email.

Water Quality

Many water quality problems in the home such as lead, red water, and sand in the system are cured by flushing the water system. The City routinely flushes hydrants as part of the water system maintenance to insure the best possible water quality for its customers.

You can routinely flush lines at sinks or at outside hose bibs. To avoid losing this water, you can catch it in a container and use it for plant and garden watering, but even if you do not do this, strictly speaking, the flush water is not wasted.

A true waste of water is a use that gives no benefit, like leaving water running while brushing teeth, setting your lawn sprinkler so that water lands on your driveway or road or flushing the toilet to get rid of a tissue. Flush water does benefit if it keeps lead or rusts out of your water or brings hot water to your tub. Try to use your flushed water, but if your can't don't feel bad because this water has served a useful purpose.

Faucets

Using aerators on your faucets will help to conserve water. When mixed with water, tiny air bubbles from the aerator prevent the water from splashing too much. Because the water flow is less, often half the regular flow is needed, so in return it helps to conserve water.

Dishwashers

Dishwashers are another way to conserve water. On the average, a dishwasher uses about 50% less water than the amount used when you wash and rinse by hand. But remember this is only true when dishes are not pre-rinsed and only full loads are washed in the dishwasher.