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Facts & Tips
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act of 1977 was established to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters to support “the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water.” One of the most successful environmental laws, the Clean Water Act has made most of the nation’s waters safe for fishing, swimming, and drinking.
Water & Wastewater Utilities, Inc. staunchly upholds the Act’s environmental mission by observing its laws and dedicating our resources toward improving water quality in the United States.
To learn more about the Clean Water Act, click the button below.
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act was passed in 1974 due to congressional concerns about organic chemical contaminants in drinking water and the inefficient manner by which states supervised and monitored drinking water supplies. Congress wanted to ensure that all citizens served by public water systems would be provided high quality water. As a result, the EPA set enforceable standards for health-related drinking water contaminants. The Act also established programs to protect underground sources of drinking water from contamination.
Thanks to the Safe Drinking Water Act, Water & Wastewater Utilities customers enjoy some of the safest, cleanest drinking water in the world.
To learn more about the Safe Drinking Water Act, click the button below.
How much water do we really use?
The average family of four uses:
- 255 gallons of water a day
- 1,785 gallons a week
- 7,650 gallons a month
- One dishwasher load uses approximately 4-5 gallons per minute.
- A single toilet flush uses approximately 5-7 gallons of water.
- Leaky toilets waste as much as 200 gallons each day.
- Washing clothes uses approximately 35 gallons per load.
- Taking a shower uses approximately 5-10 gallons per minute.
- A sink uses approximately 4-5 gallons a minute.
- Dripping faucets waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year.
If all U.S. households practiced water conservation measures and installed water saving features, such as low-flow shower heads or faucet aerators, water use would decrease by 30 percent, saving an estimated 5.4 billion gallons per day.
water conservation tips
Lessen the amount of water you use by following these tips:
Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave, instead of running water over it.
Only run the dishwasher/washing machine when fully loaded.
When hand washing dishes:
Use two basins – one for washing and one for rinsing, rather than letting the water continuously run.
Repair dripping faucets & leaky toilets promptly.
Water your lawn no more than:
- every 3-5 days in the summer
- every 10-14 days in the winter
Water your lawn in the early morning, late afternoon, or evening, when not windy, to prevent water loss from evaporation.
Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways.
