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In 2008, Ann Arbor residents used an average of 123 gallons of water per person, per day.
Source: Water Treatment Services
Last Updated July 2009
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What is water use per capita?
Water Use per capita the amount of water is used per person per day. It is estimated by dividing the amount of treated water leaving the plant by the city’s population. On average, the water treatment plant produces approximately 14 million gallons per day, but this total includes the water purchased by Scio and Ann Arbor townships.
How does water use affect the Ann Arbor environment?
Ann Arbor has adequate source, treatment and transmission capacity, thanks to careful planning and efficient operation. However, water conservation is still very important to environment protection. Residents are encouraged to use water wisely. Excess use has a negative impact on not only your water bill, but on the wastewater plant and in our local streams. A toilet running or a small leak from the kitchen faucet can lead to a tremendous amount of wasted water. This water all flows to the wastewater plant, where it must be treated to very high standards.
Excess water use in your lawn affects our streams. Your lawn can only soak up so much water; any excess will run off into the nearest storm drain, which directly flows to the river.
How often should I water my lawn?
Did you know that the biggest use of water in the home actually occurs outside? Lawn watering accounts for close to 33% of residential water use. Conserve water by only watering the lawn when necessary. If you water your lawn and garden, only do it once a week, and only if rainfall isn't sufficient. Avoid watering on windy and hot days. Water the lawn and garden in the morning or late in the evening to maximize the amount of water which reaches the plant roots (otherwise most of the water will evaporate). Use soaker hoses to water gardens and flower beds. If sprinklers are used, take care to be sure they don't water walkways and buildings. When you water, put down no more than 1 inch (set out a empty cans to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch) each week. This watering pattern will encourage more healthy, deep grass roots. Over-watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in the growth of shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought and foot traffic. If an automatic lawn irrigation system is used, be sure it has been properly installed, is programmed to deliver the appropriate amount and rate of water, and has rain shut-off capability.
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