Conserving water everyone’s responsibility Published Sept. 1, 2010 By Jeff Jackson Asset Management Office MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Nothing hits the spot during the dog days of summer like a cold drink of water. Can you imagine a day when you turn on the tap and nothing comes out? The water many of us take for granted could suddenly become scarce. Sounds like a drastic scenario, but more and more, we hear of legal battles to protect access to this precious commodity. Without conscious conservation efforts, this life-giving resource could become scarce even in the well-watered southern United States. The Maxwell Air Force Base Water Management Plan was developed to address this issue and to implement executive orders that outline water conservation goals for federal agencies. Our desire to conserve and eliminate unnecessary use of water is very important to the future health of Maxwell-Gunter and the surrounding communities. What's more, water conservation is critical to our national security. All Department of Defense facilities have been directed to reduce water consumption by 2 percent a year through the end of fiscal 2020 -- not an easy goal to achieve. Maxwell-Gunter military members, civilians and housing residents are urged to use water responsibly and efficiently. With just a little thought, many conservation measures can be applied to our daily routines. You may think small changes won't make a difference, but taken together, the results will propel us a long way toward our goal. Consider some of the following tips: - Verify that your facility is leak-free. If you have a leaky faucet or pipe, report it to the facility manager. A leaky faucet adds up -- one drop per second can add up to more than 400 gallons of water a year. A steady stream will do away with more than 80,000 gallons a year. - Notify the facility manager of any damaged or faulty water fixtures. - Avoid unnecessary toilet flushes. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such items in a trash can rather than in a toilet. - Report sticking toilet or urinal handles that continue to run. - Water your yard and plants in the evening. Water stored in the soil is evaporated throughout the day, so watering in the evening minimizes evaporation and allows the water to penetrate the soil and feed your plants. - Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn rather than the sidewalk or street. - Turn off the water while you shave or wash your face. Brush your teeth while waiting for the water to get hot for face washing or shaving. - Wash full loads of laundry and properly set the water level for the load size. - Store drinking water in a refrigerator rather than letting the tap water run to get a cool glass of water. - Don't run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. One of the many goals of our Water Management Plan is to help civilians, military members and residents recognize the water our lives depend on is a limited resource and it must be used wisely, responsibly and efficiently. If you have questions or suggestions about conserving water on Maxwell or Gunter, please contact our Asset Management Office at 953-9730. Water waste and leaks should be reported to the EMCS at 953-3333. Our attention to the most basic conservation measures can ensure that Maxwell-Gunter and the surrounding communities continue to have access to an abundant supply of water.