Water consumption adds up during summer

By Kendra Simpson

Between filling up pools, tending to gardens and overall consumption, St. Joseph residents may notice an increase in their water usage this summer.

With the 20% rate increase to water bills that took effect last May, it’s more critical than ever to save water any way possible.

One St. Joseph resident has a few tips to help keep water bill from soaring.

“I would just say only use it when you need it,” Haleigh Knadler, a new pool owner, said. “We do one little laundry (load) a day just to be more efficient. We have animals so we have to fill up water tanks every day but we turn them off when we’re done filling so that way we’re not just wasting all the water.”

According to Missouri American Water, the average house wastes enough water from leaks alone per year to fill a swimming pool. To conserve water and lower bills, the utility suggests checking for leaks and utilizing a detection kit that can be found on its website at www.amwater.com/moaw.

Residents also can save water by tending to gardens in the morning or evening when moisture is less likely to evaporate, using a dishwasher rather than hand washing and shortening showers by two minutes.