Water Conservation Makes Cents

Water conservation is a good idea and it’s now easier than ever to get started. The City of Norman is making water conservation kits available to Norman residents at the very low cost of $6. Each kit includes a 2 gallon per minute (gpm) low flow showerhead, a 2.2 gpm swivel kitchen aerator, a 1.5 gpm bathroom aerator, a toilet tank bank, leak detection dye tablets, washers, teflon tape and instruction card. These kits may be purchased at the City of Norman Utilities billing window, 201 West Gray, Building C.

The conservation kits are the brainchild of ECAB (Environmental Control Advisory Board). ECAB is a citizen advisory board appointed by the mayor to investigate, prepare for and recommend programs regarding the preservation and enhancement of the environmental quality of the City. Water Conservation is an important program of ECAB and they believe that distributing these water conservation kits provides a very pro-active, hands on approach to managing water usage and promoting conservation. The water kits are being sold at what it costs ECAB to buy them. The water kits are a tremendous value for the homeowner. To get a showerhead and two sink aerators for $6 is unheard of. ECAB estimates that installing a conservation kit, in a typical home of three people, could save the homeowners about $1.50 per month; which means the kits would pay for themselves in just 4 months.

Newer homes, built after 1994, already have low flow devices installed as part of their plumbing. Houses built prior to 1994 would benefit most from installing the water conservation kits. The kits are available on a first come basis and ECAB only bought 1,000 kits to start. Each Norman homeowner can purchase up to two kits. For more information call Environmental Services at 292-9731.

Try to do one thing each day to save water. Every drop counts and every person can make a difference.