Water Conservation: You and Northgate

On average, a person uses 50-75 gallons of water each day. By becoming conscious of how water is wasted, you can reduce your usage. Conserving water saves money and helps protect our most precious resource.  A lack of water, even though it may not seem to be apparent here in Vermont, has begun to become a major concern in many parts of our country. 

While Vermont may not be experiencing some of the water shortage problems that exist elsewhere, the delivering of clean water to one’s home is not an inexpensive proposition, and Northgate is no exception to that rule.

Northgate as a community pays nearly $200,000.00 on average, each year, for water services. While Northgate residents do not pay a monthly water bill directly, the cost of water is a part of Northgate’s annual operating budget. Wasting water is nothing more than wasting dollars that can be better used toward improving our community.

Please remember that savings do not go into the pocket of a property owner here at Northgate, but instead are used to better the community as a whole.         

The following is a list of water saving tips that not only can help to keep Northgate’s bills lower, but also help our environment:

1. Take short showers instead of baths. A full bath requires approximately 36 gallons of water. A five minute shower using a low-flow restrictor will use only 15-25 gallons.
    
2. Don't leave the water running while brushing your teeth and/or shaving. Put a stopper in the sink and dunk the razor instead of rinsing it under the faucet. Saves 4 -10 gallons per day.
    
3. Don't use the toilet as a trash can. Don’t flush items like facial tissues or paper towels. Saves 2 gallons per flush.
    
4. Wait until you have a full load before washing clothes, and use the water level appropriate for the load. Consider washing with cold water. Washing machines use 22-25 gallons per load.
    
5. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than allowing the tap to run in order to get a cold drink of water.
    
6. Use the correct amount of water for cooking, and reuse water from boiling or steaming pasta and vegetables to water plants once it cools.
    
7. Rinse fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water instead of under the faucet. Saves 2-4 gallons per day.
    
8. Report all plumbing leaks or running toilets immediately. A running toilet left unrepaired can add hundreds of extra dollars to a monthly water bill. A faucet dripping at a rate of one drop per second can waste 2,700 gallons of water per year.
    
9. When purchasing a new clothes washer consider an ENERGY STAR certified washer. These washers use 20% less energy and 35% less water, or only 15 gallons of water per load as opposed to the 23 gallon average used by a standard washing machine. ENERGY STAR certified appliances may also earn you a rebate from your local power utility.
    
10. Please remember that the washing of vehicles is strictly prohibited at Northgate.