Water Conservation Presentation

WATER CONSERVATION

CONSERVATION - THE WISE USE OF THE EARTH AND ITS RESOURCES FOR THE LASTING GOOD OF MANKIND

All the water on planet earth is all the
water that ever existed on earth…
and all the water that will ever exist.

• 97% of the earth’s water is in oceans in the
form of salt water

• 2% of earth’s water is stored in glaciers, ice
caps and snowy mountain ranges

• Only about 1% is available as fresh water
to supply our daily needs

Fresh water supplies are either below
ground or in surface waters such as
streams, rivers, and lakes.

Conservation is not just about saving water.
It’s also about having enough clean water.
Although we live in a water-rich area, our
personal behavior can affect the quality of
water available for our use.

Hot Springs draws its water from Lake Ouachita and Lake Sanderson. Both lakes collect waters from
watersheds. A watershed is an area of land that drains all of the streams and rainfall to a common
point. All of the things we do within that area affect the quality of the water we have available for
our human needs

The average American uses about 100 gallons of
water each day. Average households use more than
100,000 gallons annually for flushing toilets,
showering and other uses.

• Agriculture accounts for about 70% of fresh water
usage.

• Industrial usage is about 22%
• Domestic usage runs about 8%

Tips for Saving Water

AT YOUR HOME

• Invest in water efficient fixtures when you replace
household products that use water

• Take shorter showers
• Turn off the tap when brushing teeth and shaving
• Always run full loads in washing machines and

dishwashers
• Fix dripping faucets and leaky pipes
• Manage your irrigation system to account for efficient

watering and rain events

Tips for Saving Water

IRRIGATION

• Adjust your irrigation system with changes in weather.
Water only when necessary. Do not water when it is
raining.

• Use soaker and drip irrigation systems that limit water
output.

• Operate your system early in the morning to reduce
evaporation.

• Water deep, but infrequently to encourage deep root
growth.

• Keep your sprinkler system well maintained. Check
regularly for broken heads, clogged nozzles, leaks and
faulty valves.

• DO NOT water driveways, sidewalks and streets.

Tips for Saving Water

IRRIGATION

• Use a timer on hose type sprinklers to avoid running
excessive periods. Typically, a lawn needs about one inch
of water per week.

• Place tuna cans or other straight sided containers around
your lawn and in flower beds.
• Run the sprinklers for 15 minutes.
• Measure the depth of water in each container in
each specific watering zone.
• Average the depth of water for each zone.
• Multiply the average by 4.

This is your sprinkler output in inches per hour. Generally,
one inch of water per week is sufficient

Tips for Saving Water

LANDSCAPE MATERIALS

• Bermuda and Zoysia grasses are well suited to this area.
• Use ground covers, hardscapes and mulches in shaded

areas.
• Consider using native plants that require less water.

Tips for Saving Water

LANDSCAPE MATERIALS

• Select drought tolerant plants that grow well in this area.
• Try grouping plants that have similar water needs.
• Select practical plant materials.

Visit the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
website to find helpful programs and publications.

Check with local nurseries to learn what plants grow well in
this area.

Tips for Saving Water

Mulches and Compost

• Using mulch to cover ground around plants helps
reduce evaporation and discourage the growth of
weeds.

• Compost, worked into your planting beds, helps aerate
the soil, helps retain moisture, and provide nutrients

The City of Hot Springs Utilities Department operates a Class A compost facility, just off Shady Grove Road on
Davidson Drive. The compost material is a mixture of yard waste and wood chips combined with dehydrated bio-
solids from the City’s wastewater treatment plants.

The facility accepts yard waste and logwood waste free of charge to City of Hot Springs wastewater customers.
Tipping fees apply to commercial lawn and landscaping businesses as well as those who are not City wastewater
customers.

Self-loaded compost is free to the public.

Visit Our Website

For more information visit the City’s Website
• Select Departments/Utilities, or
• Type in https://www.cityhs.net/228/Utilities