Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Pender County urges residents to conserve water

PENDER COUNTY — Pender County is in its second year of winter drought conditions and county staff are asking residents to conserve water.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show reduced streamflow and low lake, river and reservoir levels.

“This places Pender County and Southeastern North Carolina in a dangerous situation,” Pender County Public Utilities Director Kenny Keel said in a press release.

According to NOAA, wildfire danger is higher than the seasonal normal during droughts.

“Pender County has experienced dangerous wildfires,” Pender County Emergency Director Tommy Batson said. He urges residents to monitor any outdoor burning; dryness of grass and leaves can cause fires to spread quickly.

“Suppressing a fire requires a huge amount of water and during a drought, we need to conserve our water,” Batson said.

The county shared tips to conserve water:

According to Ready.gov, here are some practical methods of water conservation during a drought:

  • Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. For example, use it to water your indoor plants or garden.
  • Fix dripping faucets by replacing washers. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water a year.
  • Check all plumbing for leaks and have any leaks repaired by a plumber.
  • Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
  • Install an instant hot water heater on your sink.
  • Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking.
  • Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes.
  • Turn the softener off while on vacation.
  • Choose appliances that are more energy and water efficient.
  • Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models.
  • Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed to flush.
  • Place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet flow. Make sure it does not interfere with the operating parts.
  • Replace your shower head with an ultra-low-flow version.
  • Instead of using the garbage disposal, throw food in the garbage or start a compost pile to dispose it.

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