Need a new year’s resolution you can keep? How about cutting down your water use! Let’s review all the ways you can save money and water both inside and outside your home. By participating in the Big Sky Water Conservation Program, not only are you benefiting the Gallatin by keeping water in the river, but you can save money on your water and energy bills, win-win! The Task Force has rebates and resources for homeowners, business owners, and renters to make it possible for you to save money and save water for the good of the Gallatin River. Let’s break it down:
Kitchen and Bathroom: Did you know the number one use of water in the average US household comes from flushing the toilet? Replacing your toilets with a WaterSense model will cut down on your water use and your bill. Another major saver is keeping on top of leaks. Regularly check out all your faucets and showerheads for drips and fix accordingly. You can check your toilet by putting a few drops of food coloring in your tank, if it appears in the bowl – you have a leak. Just one drop leaking per second can waste over 100 gallons of water a day!
Laundry: Replace your washing machine with an Energy Star certified model. When replacing an older, low-efficiency model this can save up to 50% on water and electricity. Not able to upgrade? Consider how you do your laundry! Only wash full loads so your washer isn’t wasting water, or make sure your washer settings are set for the right load size. To cut down on the number of loads you’re doing, try hand-washing small stains or wear items more than once before washing when possible.
Outside: On average, water use in Big Sky is 7x higher in the summer compared to winter, mostly due to irrigating and lawn care. There are plenty of ways to reduce your outdoor water use and still have a thriving lawn. Be smart about when you water, irrigation is most effective during the cool morning hours or in the evening. When you water midday, roughly 65% of it is lost from evaporation in the summer heat. Check to make sure the placement of any sprinklers is effective; water your lawn, not the pavement! Replace some of your plants with Montana native species that are adapted to grow in drier conditions and need less watering overall. Lastly, make the most out of your water-saving lawn by pledging to have a Trout Friendly Landscape.
Check out our indoor and outdoor rebate options to save even more when you’ve made your upgrades. We offer cash back for water saving toilets, washers, sprinkler audits/upgrades, and more! Any installations made after July 1, 2016 are eligible with proof of purchase and installation. You can also come by the Task Force office to pick up a free showerhead and faucet aerators. And remember, every drop saved is one that remains in the river. Any questions? Contact Jess Olson at jessica@gallatinrivertaskforce.org or call (406) 996 – 2519.
