Bethpage, NY (May XX, 2019)—As the weather becomes warmer and Bethpage residents consider turning on their lawn irrigation systems for the season, the Bethpage Water District reminds residents of the importance of responsibly using water. On average, water use in the summer is 300 percent greater than that on a typical day in any other season, an increase which can be directly attributed to irrigation use.
“The Bethpage Water District works tirelessly to ensure residents know the importance of conserving and using our most precious natural resource responsibly,” said Commissioner Theresa M. Black. “Irrigation season is by far our highest demand period of the year. During this time, more than 85 percent of the water we serve is used for purposes other than drinking.”
The Bethpage Water District has worked tirelessly to meet the changing needs of the community. In recent years, the District completed a full-scale overhaul of commercial and residential water meters to allow residents to digitally monitor their water usage with up-to-the-hour statistics. This technology is available to all Bethpage residents using the smartphone app, EyeOnWater.
“We pride ourselves in not only educating residents about why it is important to conserve water, but also providing them with the tools to do so effectively,” said Commissioner John R. Sullivan. “This service came at no additional cost to ratepayers and was implemented through the District’s listening to what our community members needed to conserve water."
Residents can play a part in ensuring a bountiful water supply by adhering to county ordinances for irrigation, including not watering during the hottest hours of the day, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and following the odd-even regulations for lawn irrigation. Some other easy, helpful tips to cut down on water usage include:
· Consider installing a smart irrigation controller, to more responsibly care for your lawn.
· Shut the faucet off while brushing your teeth or shaving until you are ready to rinse. You could save about 100 gallons of water a month.
· Check for leaking faucets, toilets or pipes around the house to cut water waste
· Use an automatic nozzle on any hose while washing a car or boat
“There are simple tips residents can observe every day that can lower your water usage,” Commissioner John F. Coumatos added. “The Bethpage Water District encourages residents to explore easy ways to conserve water usage, while not impacting your daily life. We urge residents to reach out to our District offices with any questions they might have about how they can conserve water this spring and summer.”
For more information on the Bethpage Water District, please visit www.BethpageWater.com or add the District on Facebook at facebook.com/BethpageWaterDistrict/