Water Conservation Measures Requested By Doylestown Borough

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Borough of Doylestown Water Department has implemented a voluntary water conservation request. Effective immediately, all residents and businesses are asked to conserve water by reducing nonessential usage.

"Due to the significant lack of rain over the past several weeks, the need to refrain from non-essential water usage is required," said the department in a notice sent out by Doylestown Borough Thursday morning.

The conservation request will remain in effect until further notice and is subject to either cancellation if conditions improve or an upgrade to mandatory restrictions if a drought warning is issued and restrictions and rationing if a drought emergency is declared.

Here are some water conservation measures recommended by the Doylestown Water Department:

• Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Take shorter showers.

• Water your lawn only if necessary. Avoid watering on windy and hot days. Watering grass lightly and efficiently will encourage healthier, deeper grass roots. Over watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought. When mowing your lawn, set the blades 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention.

• Water your garden less often. If necessary, water only in the cooler evening or morning hours, and direct the water to the ground at the base of the plant. Focus on new plantings, which have shallow root systems. Older plants may endure dry conditions longer.

• Skip the car washing. If you must wash your car, it’s better environmentally to go to a drive- thru car wash that recycles its water.

• Sweep your sidewalk, deck, or driveway, instead of hosing it off.

• Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.

• Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often, and only with full loads.

(Graphic courtesy of the Doylestown Water Department)

For additional water conservation suggestions from the Environmental Protection Agency, click here. For information on Pennsylvania's Drought status, click here.