Dalton Utilities

Current Water Restriction: Level 4-c
Effective July 23, 2008

Under Level Four-C, outdoor water use is allowed three days a week between the hours of midnight to 10 a.m. on an odd/even basis. No outdoor water use is allowed from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Odd-numbered addresses may use water outdoors on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Even-numbered or unnumbered addresses and may use water outdoors on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Sprinklers are allowed in this level of restriction. For a listing of exemptions, click here.

Surcharge imposed for each violation: $100 for all customers.

Indoor Conservation Tips

Tips on How to Conserve Water Indoors

General Tips
Kitchen Tips
Bathroom Tips
Laundry Room Tips

Quick and Easy Project – Convert your toilet to low-flow!

General

Never pour water down the drain. There are other uses for it.
Check all plumbing for leaks. Have leaks repaired by a plumber.
Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes. Turn the softener off while on vacation.
Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking.
Winterize outdoor spigots when temps dip to 20 degrees F to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing.
Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
Make sure you know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year!
Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
Report all significant water losses (broken pipes, open hydrants, errant sprinklers, etc.) to the property owner, local authorities or Dalton Utilities.
Try to do one thing each day that will result in a savings of water. Don't worry if the savings is minimal. Every drop counts. And every person can make a difference. So tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers to "Turn it Off" and "Keep it Off".

Operate automatic dishwashers only when they are fully loaded.
Hand wash dishes by filling two containers - one with soapy water and the other with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach. Don’t let the water run needlessly when hand-washing dishes.
Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water rather than running water from the tap.
Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste or simply dispose of food in the garbage. (Kitchen sink disposals require a lot of water to operate properly).
Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Do not let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.
Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave.
Avoid rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher; just remove large particles of food. (Most dishwashers can clean soiled dishes very well, so dishes do not have to be rinsed before washing)
Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave oven.
Fix leaky faucets – just one drip per second can waste 2,700 gallons of water per year!

Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models. Note: In many areas, low-volume units are required by law. If you live in an older home, consider installing low-flow showerheads and toilets when replacing fixtures. Quick and Easy Project – Convert your toilet to low-flow!
If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts.
If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient showerhead.
Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
Take fewer tub baths. Take a shower instead! Take short showers - turn on water only to get wet and lather and then again to rinse off. A five minute shower only uses 10-25 gallons while a tub bath can use up to 70 gallons.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
Fix leaky faucets – just one drip per second can waste 2,700 gallons of water per year!

Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate load size selection on the washing machine
Next time you purchase a washer, choose a high-efficiency model. Average washing machine uses 40.9 gallons per load. High-efficiency machines use less than 27 gallons per load.