FREE WATER SAVER KITS AT ALL LOCAL FIRE STATIONS

On Nov. 17, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division declared a Level 2 drought for 53 counties including the Metro Atlanta area. With limited a limited supply, conservation measures are imperative. To assist residents, the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has partnered with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department to offer free water conservation kits available at all Atlanta fire stations. 

Residents who install water conservation kits in their home can save an average of $600 a year and conserve 139 billion gallons of water a year. 

To preserve our water supply, Watershed Management also is hiring additional crews to address the backlog of leak reports across the city. 

Each water-saving kit contains the following: 
· A 1.5 gallon-per-minute (gpm) showerhead 
· 2 5 gpm bathroom faucet aerators 
· 1 1.5 gpm kitchen faucet aerator 
· Toilet leak detection tablets 

Conserving water enables the City of Atlanta to properly utilize the current water supply more efficiently and ensures ample supply for fire protection. 

Here are some additional ways Metro Atlanta residents can save water: 
- Use a rain gauge to determine how much it has rained over the week before watering outdoor plants. 
- Water in several short sessions instead of one long session. This reduces runoff and allows water to infiltrate soil and plant roots. 
- Only water lawns when needed. 
- Check and repair leaks outside the home. 
- Shorten showers and turn off water when shaving or brushing teeth. 
- Fill dishwashers and washing machines – make sure the load is full every time. 

For more information on water conservation tips, visit www.atlantawatershed.org and join the conversation via social media @ATLWatershed.