Tips for Our Customers

Table of Contents

1. High Water Pressure
2. Wrap Your Tap
3. Prepare for Extended Trips
4. Disaster Preparedness
5. Keeping Water Safe
6. Ways to Save Water Outdoors
7. Ways to Save Water Indoors
8. How Can I Tell if I Have an Ultra-Low-Flow Toilet?
9. How Can I Tell if I Have a Low-Flow Showerhead?

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High Water Pressure

Due to the hilly terrain in some parts of our service area, customers residing in low elevations may have high water pressure.  Ideal pressure falls in the 50-60 pounds per square inch (psi) range.  The Uniform Plumbing Code recommends that an individual pressure relief valve (PRV) be installed by property owners on their side of the meter when there is 80 psi or more system pressure at the meter. PRV's are available at most hardware stores, or you can call a licensed plumber to have one installed.

You can check your pressure by using a gauge that screws on to your outside faucet.  The District has a limited number of pressure gauges available to loan.  If the pressure on your outside faucet is at, or below 80 psi, you may already have a PRV on your system.  If at some point you notice a considerable increase in pressure, it could be that your PRV has worn out and needs to be replaced.

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Wrap Your Tap

Don't let cold weather catch you unprepared.  Every winter there are homeowners who face the expense and inconvenience of frozen water pipes.  Taking a few precautions before winter hits, can help you avoid this problem.

• Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses.   Detaching the hose allows water to drain from the Faucet.  Otherwise, a single hard, overnight freeze can burst either the faucet or the pipe it's connected to.
• Insulate exposed pipes and faucets.  Outdoor faucets, pipes and pipes in unheated attics, garages and crawl spaces are most vulnerable to freezing.  Hardware and building supply stores have good pipe and faucet insulation materials available.  In a pinch, wrap pipes and outdoor faucets with a thick layer of newspaper or rags and cover with plastic.  You can insulate your water meter by pouring soil around it, just be sure to leave the lid of the meter exposed so CWD meter readers can still read it.
• Find the Master meter Shutoff Valve.  Be sure everyone in the family knows where it is and how to turn it off.  If a pipe bursts anywhere in the house - kitchen, bath, basement or crawl space - this valve will need to be turned off.
• What if you wake up one morning and despite your best efforts your pipes are frozen?  Have your plumber's telephone number handy!  If you want to try thawing the pipes yourself, wrap the frozen section with rags or towels and pour hot water over it. NEVER under any circumstances use a torch with an open flame!  Besides the danger of catching the surrounding area on fire, the excessive heat can cause your pipes to burst.
• Beware that the frozen pipe may already be broken. As soon as it is thawed, water may come gushing out. So shut off the master shutoff valve before you start thawing the pipes to minimize the damage.

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Prepare for Extended Trips

If you are preparing for an extended trip, you may want to turn your water off totally.  Drain the pipes by opening a faucet at each end of your plumbing system until the water stops running. To protect your water heater, it is recommended that you shut off the power (electricity or gas) to the water heater before draining the plumbing systems.

If you will be away during the fall and/or winter months see Wrap Your Tap for additional helpful tips.

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Disaster Preparedness

• Store Water - Water is critical for survival, stocking an emergency supply should be among your top priorities.  Store at least one gallon of water per person per day- a minimum of a five day supply.  Since all water has a certain amount of bacteria in it, CWD recommends adding two drops of household bleach such as Clorox (read the label to be sure the only active ingredient is 5.25% hypochlorite bleach) to each gallon of water you are storing in order to retard bacterial growth.  This is true even for bottled water purchased at the store, as this also contains some bacteria.  You may use any clean, sealable container that has not previously held toxic substances to store the water. Milk containers are not recommended as it is virtually impossible to remove all traces of milk, leaving a perfect medium for bacterial growth.  Pop bottles work well. Seal containers tightly, label them and store them in a cool place, replace water every six months. Use the water you pour out to water your plants or wash the car.
• Bolt Down Your Water Heater - Should a major earthquake hit our area, make sure you don't lose an important source of water by bolting your water heater to the wall studs with plumbers tape.
• Locate The Main Water Shut-Off Valve - This is the perfect time to locate the main shut-off valve to your home and familiarize everyone in your family on how to turn the water off.  If the "Big One" does strike, a shifting of the ground could break the water mains that supply you and your neighbors with water.  To keep the water in your homes' system from being drawn back into the broken watermain, you need to shut the water off at the shut-off valve.

During an Emergency...

• Conserve the Water You've Stored - Use the water supply for drinking and medical purposes only.  Get additional drinking water from the hot water heater, ice cubes, water stored in pipes and from the toilet tank, if you have not previously added toilet bowl cleaners such as drop-in pills or chlorine containers.  If you've turned off the main water valve supplying water to your home, you can access the water in your pipes by turning on the faucet at the the highest point in your house (which lets air into your system).  Then draw water as needed, from the faucet located at the lowest point in your house.  You can also purify water from streams, lakes and rain barrels by settling out sediments, straining through tightly -woven fabrics such as sheeting, and boiling it for ten minutes.  Adding two drops of liquid bleach (make sure its only active ingredient is 5.25% hypochlorite) per quart of water - four drops if the water is cloudy, is another safe disinfection method.  Stir well and let sit for at least 30 minutes.  If after that period there is no chlorine odor, repeat the process.  If there is still no chlorine odor, discard the water and seek a new source.  You can also purify water by boiling it and collecting the vapor.  Water from water beds, hot tubs or swimming pools cannot be used for drinking, use it instead for sanitation.
• Remember Water and Electricity Don't Mix - If you have a broken water line in your home, in addition to turning off the water, be sure to turn off the electricity.
• Help is on the Way, But it Could be Several Days - Business won't be as usual, but be assured that CWD will be doing our best to repair any damage to the water system.  It may be likely that some of our employees will be adversely affected by the disaster, so CWD may be short-staffed.  Severity of damage to streets and the water distribution system will also be a determining factor as to how long it will take before water service to your area is re-instated.  That's why being prepared makes extra good sense.
• Keep the Phone Lines Open for Emergencies - Unless phone lines are down, our telemetry system will alert us to line breaks and pump station failures.  Since telephone communication is always affected during emergencies either by disruption of service or by the thousands of callers tying up phone lines, CWD asks that you not call the utility.  CWD will keep the public informed over the radio, so stay tuned to your local station.  If you belong to a homeowners association, contact them for information.  CWD will try to update them when possible.  Please note that Covington Water District serves approximately 12,000 households, notifying everyone individually would be impossible.

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Keeping Water Safe

Everyone has a role to play in keeping our water supplies safe, because our everyday activities can affect water quality.  One way you can help protect our water resources is by selecting products that are "environmentally friendly".  If a product label lists the words danger, warning or caution, the product may be hazardous to your family and the environment.  Buy the least hazardous products available to do the job, and buy only as much as you need.  Or try using the alternatives listed below.  In this way, each of us can help keep our water resources safe and clean.

• All Purpose Cleanser:  Mix 1 quart warm water, 1 teaspoon liquid soap, 1 teaspoon borax, and a squeeze or splash of lemon, or splash of vinegar.
• Disinfectant:  User 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon hot water. Apply with a sponge and allow to dry. Wear gloves when applying.
• Drain Opener:  Try a plunger or snake first.  Or pour 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup salt, and 1/4 cup vinegar in that order, down the drain.  When the fizzing stops, flush with two quarts boiling water.
• Oven Cleaner:  Place aluminum foil in the bottom of the oven to catch drips.  Clean oven using baking soda, soap and water with a copper scrubber and lots of elbow grease.
• Car Care:  2.25 million gallons of used motor oil run into storm drains and right into Washington's waterways each year.  Help reduce this number by fixing all oil leaks promptly and disposing of used motor oil properly.  Soak up any small oil spills with kitty litter, which may be disposed of in the garbage.  Call the Household Hazardous Waste Line at 206.296.4692 for more information.
• Yard Care:  Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  Enrich soils with plenty of compost material and use slow release organic fertilizers when necessary.  Plant native or climate-friendly, disease-resistant plants.  Encourage birds, bats and beneficial insects to visit your landscape, they will take care of pests for you.
• Septic Tank Maintenance:  Septic systems, if properly maintained, are a viable, organic means of treating your wastewater.  Don't pour hazardous chemicals down your sinks, tubs or toilets.  In addition to potentially polluting groundwater, these can shut down the treatment process, allowing raw sewage to pass through untreated.  For more information on septic system maintenance, please call the Health Department at 206.296.4932.

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Ways to Save Water Outdoors

Everyday, we make at least 20 decisions that affect our water use and the lives of all that share this precious resource, let's make sure we make the right ones.

• Enrich soils with 3-4 inches of compost worked into the top foot of soil prior to planting. Top-dress established lawns with 1/2 inch of compost every fall to gradually build up the soil.
• Reduce lawn size (lawns use 40-50% of our summer water) and include more low-water consuming native plants.
• De-thatch and aerate lawns for better water absorption.
• Clip lawns no shorter than 2 inches.  Shading the ground will reduce evaporation.
• Add a 3 inch layer of mulch around ornamentals to keep the ground cool and moisture in.
• Water small lawns once a week to moisten the soil 8-10" deep.
• Limit yourself to using no more than 700 gallons a week outdoors.
• Water only after 7:00pm or before 10:00am to avoid excessive loss from evaporation.  Don't water on rainy or windy days.
• Apply water only as quickly as the soil can absorb it.  This may mean that you have to sprinkle in short repeat cycles to make sure the soil gets moistened 8-10" deep.
• Use soaker hoses or drip systems, they're much more water-efficient than sprinklers.
• Adjust Sprinklers so you're watering only what grows - not the street or sidewalk.
• Check sprinkler system often for leaks and fix them promptly.
• Include a rain sensor and a soil moisture sensor in your automatic sprinkler system.
• Adjust your automatic sprinkler system's controller with the weather.
• Catch rainwater in barrels to use for thirsty plants. Please call CWD if you would like to purchase rain barrels 253.631.0565.
• Use a broom to clean driveway or patio, instead of the hose and precious water.
• Wash your car using a bucket of soapy water, use the hose with a shut-off nozzle just to rinse.  Or use a commercial car-wash that recycles used water.
• Install pool and spa covers to keep down evaporation, and, by keeping the water cleaner, you will have to replace it less often.

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Ways to Save Water Indoors

• Fix Leaks promptly.  Those little drips can waste lots of water. Drippy faucets mean washers or o-rings need replacing.  To check your toilet bowl for leaks, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank - if color shows up in your toilet bowl after 10-15 minutes, you have a leak. Please repair promptly!
• Install "water displacement devices" in your toilet tank if you have an older model toilet.  That simply means placing a mayonnaise jar, a pop bottle, or anything else that fits in the corner of the tank without interfering with the flushing mechanism.  Be sure to remove all labels first and weight the container down with pebbles and water so it doesn't float.  Every time you flush, you'll be using that much less water (a standard toilet uses up to 5 gallons per flush!). PLEASE NOTE: NEVER USE A BRICK as a displacement device. It will disintegrate and wreak havoc on your plumbing system.
• Replace older toilets with new ultra low-efficient toilets which use only 1.5 gallons per flush. If you are interested in purchasing ultra low-efficient toilet(s) at cost, contact conservation@covingtonwater.com or call 253.631.0565. For a limited time, CWD is currently participating in a bulk purchase of these toilets to sell to CWD customers.
• Need a new washing machine? Buy a WashWise model and save 6000-8000 gallons per year. CWD offers a rebate for WashWise machines. Click here to see if you qualify for a WashWise rebate.
• Replace your showerhead with a low-flow model. A 10-minute shower uses 50-75 gallons of water.  You can save up to half of that water use with a low-flow fixture.
• Capture shower warm-up water. Use it to water plants wash the floor or the car, or simply to flush the toilet the next time it needs flushing. 
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. CWD has low-flow faucet heads available at cost to CWD customers. Contact conservation@covingtonwater.com or call 253.631.0565 to check available quantities and pricing.
• Wash only full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in your refrigerator. Running tap water until it's cold enough to drink wastes water.
• Turn food waste (no meat products) into nutrient-rich compost instead of wasting this valuable resource in the garbage disposal.
• In restaurants, accept water only if you want it. Not only will you save the water you don't drink, you will save the water that would have been used to wash the glass.

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How Can I Tell if I Have an Ultra-Low-Flow Toilet?

You've just bought a house and have no idea whether the toilets are water-guzzling, 5 gallons per flush standard toilets, low-flow 3.5 gallons per flush units, or the more recent water saver toilets which use only 1.5 gallons per flush.

If the house was built or the toilet was replaced after the state's plumbing code was changed in September 1993, then you definitely have an ultra-low-flow toilet.  If it's an older home, you can determine the volume of water the toilet uses by measuring the water in the tank with a ruler and applying the following formulas:

            Width X Length X Depth = ______ cubic inches of water in the tank

            Divide the answer by 231 (231 cubic inches=1 gallon) for total number of gallons

Watch the tank as you flush to determine how much water remains in the tank after the flush is complete. Deduct that amount from the total number of gallons to find the amount that went down the drain.

To find out more information on ultra-low-flow toilets read the section titled Ways to Save Water Indoors.

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How Can I Tell if I Have a Low-Flow Showerhead?

For this one, you'll need a bucket, a watch with a second hand or stop watch and a helper.  Turn the shower on to the extent that you normally do for a shower.  As your helper starts the timer, place the bucket a foot or two under the showerhead, making sure that all the water is flowing into the bucket.  Catch the water for 15 seconds and then measure the amount you have caught.  Multiply the amount  by four to determine the amount of flow coming from your showerhead in one minute.

Standard showerheads use 5-7 gallons per minute of water depending upon the water pressure in your area, so a 10-minute shower can use 50-70 gallons!  Save water by keeping showers short, or installing a low-flow showerhead which uses only a 2.5 gallons per minute.

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