Coalition renews push for reducing water use

Southern Nevada Coalition 2000 kicked off its 1998 water conservation campaign Monday, announcing a goal of reducing usage by 14.8 percent.

Since it began in 1995, the Coalition has increased its goal each year with the ultimate aim of reducing water consumption by 25 percent by the year 2010.

"This is a grass-roots effort to promote water conservation," said Bill Martin, Coalition chairman. "It is critical to our water supply."

This year's campaign will be directed at homeowners and restaurants.

"We want to get restaurants to serve water only when requested," he said.

Homeowners, on an average, account for 65 percent of water usage. Of that amount, 60 percent is used outdoors -- 90 percent during the summer months. And about half of the outdoor water is wasted through over-watering and allowing water to fall onto areas that don't need it, Martin said.

David Riggleman, conservation manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said peak demand use in the summer months is a critical issue.

"All of our customers must do something to help," he said, noting that there used to be a tendency for people to point fingers at potential sources of problems but in fact everyone plays a part in wasting water.

The campaign kick-off was held at the SNWA's Desert Demonstration Gardens, amid examples of plants that are drought tolerant and water efficient.

According to figures released by the water district, saving 14.8 percent in water usage means the average household will save about 190 gallons per day or 5,700 gallons per month.

Tips for home conservation include:

When the Coalition first formed in 1995 its campaign resulted in a 9 percent reduction in water usage. In 1996 the reduction was 11 percent and last year it was 13.

Future goals include an 18.7 percent reduction by 2000 and a 23.5 percent reduction by 2005.

Water-use patterns indicate residential usage at 65 percent, commercial usage at 13 percent, irrigation at 9 percent, hotels at 7 percent, government and schools at 5 percent, and industrial at 1 percent.

Residential use includes 60 percent outside, 16 percent toilet, 13 percent shower, 5 percent laundry, 4 percent faucet and 2 percent dishwasher.

The SNWA recommends scheduling watering times to minimize water run-off and adjusting sprinklers to water only landscaped areas, rather than the sidewalk, driveway and street.

Homeowners may save about 3,600 gallons per month by reducing lawn watering by two minutes a day.

Watering for one minute less saves 60 gallons of water per day.

To conserve water indoors:

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