The 40 Gallon Challenge is a nationwide call for residents and business to reduce water use by 40 gallons per person, per day.  Drought conditions, increased water demands, and water wasting habits put strains on our region’s water supply and this can have negative impacts on our energy consumption, the local environment, and our wallets.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water delivery and treatment consumes a considerable amount of energy, about 56 billion kilowatt-hours per year or roughly enough energy to power 5 million homes for a full year.  Running a faucet for five minutes uses roughly the same amount of energy as letting a 60-watt light-bulb run for 14 hours.

As our water resources become strained, water levels can lower, therefore increasing the concentration of water pollutants.  Higher pollutant concentrations can affect the safety of animals and the safety of the community if these pollutants are passed on during consumption of polluted animals.

The economic strain may not be so apparent when you look at the monthly water bill, but if you take a moment to add up how much you are spending across the year, you might be surprised.  The EPA states that, on average, a household will spend $500 a year on water services.  However, using water saving habits at home can affect your wallet and the community at large.

Run the dishwasher only when it’s full, take shorter showers, fix leaky faucets and toilets, or even install low-flow toilets and shower heads.  We can all help conserve a very precious resource just by taking a few small steps to reduce our consumption.

For more information on water conservation or to make a pledge to reduce your water usage, visit www.40gallonchallenge.org today – click on Texas on the map, then Bosque County, and pledge to save water, save energy, save the environment, and save some money today.  Small steps can have big effects.