Being Desert Smart in Utah

How many children do you bath each day? EveryLessen the leaching of chemicals and sediments into
bath averages the use of approximately 50 gallons ofstreams and aquifers; Reduce stream diversions,
water. Your shower sends two gallons per minutethereby enhancing water quality, environmental and
down the drain. Teeth brushing one gallon, washingrecreational functions.
your hands or face, one gallon, running yourSo in the interest of conservation, Utahns have been
dishwasher an average of twenty gallons per load,urged to run laundry machines and dishwashers only
washing them by hand, five gallons and throwing in awhen they are full, shorten shower time and replace
load of laundry, ten gallons of water per load. Washingshowerheads and faucets with water-efficient models
your car requires seventy gallons of water. Traditionaland use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while
methods of carpet cleaning can use up to 160 gallonswashing vehicles. Carpet cleaning may seem like a
of water.corner to cut in the interest of water conservation, but
The Utah Division of Water Resources has statedweighing and measuring the 160 gallons against 100,000
that water conservation is imperative in order to: Delaydust mites per square yard and more than 200,000
expensive capital investments to upgrade or expandmicrobes of bacteria per square inch, well, is it a
existing water facilities; Reduce sewage flows,conundrum? A necessary evil? Akin to the
delaying the need for more wastewater treatmentaforementioned measures for conservation, routine
facilities; Conserve energy as less water needs to becarpet cleaning for a healthier home can be done
treated, pumped and distributed to the consumer;water smart.