Drought Watch - How You Can Help

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a statewide drought watch. While not required, residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily conserve water by reducing their nonessential water use.

College Township Water Authority (CTWA) is currently operating under its Drought Contingency Plan, which includes placing a voluntary restriction on hydrant flushing and expanding efforts to locate and fix any system leaks.

In the tabbed section of the page below, CTWA offers its customers the following suggestions on ways to conserve water:

Residential Customers
Non-Residential Customers
Health Care Facilities

Suggestions on limiting non-essential use and recommendations on water-saving fixtures and methods:
1. Locate and repair all leaks in faucets, toilets and water-using appliances.
2. Adjust all water-using appliances to use the minimum amount of water in order to achieve the appliance’s purpose.
3. Use automatic washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads. Preferably, wash dishes by hand.
4. Take shorter showers and shallower baths.
5. Turn off shower while soaping; turn off faucet while brushing teeth, etc.
6. Install flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets.
7. Reduce the number of toilet flushes per day. Reduce water used per flush by installing toilet tank displacement inserts.
8. Use sink and tub stoppers to avoid wasting water.
9. Keep bottle of chilled drinking water in refrigerator

Drought Watch - How You Can Help

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Suggestions on limiting non-essential use and recommendations on water-saving fixtures and methods:
1. Identify and repair all leaky fixtures and water-using equipment. Special attention is to be given to equipment connected directly to the water line, such as processing machine, steam-using machines, washing machines, water-cooled air conditioners and furnaces.
2. Assure that the valves and solenoids, which control water flows, are shut off completely when the water-using cycle is not engaged.
3. Adjust water-using equipment to the use the minimum amount of water required to achieve its stated purpose.
4. Shorten rinse cycles for laundry machines as much as possible; tower water levels should be implemented wherever possible.
5. Temperature setting of hot water for showers should be set down at least 10 degrees to discourage lengthy shower taking.
6. Where plumbing fixtures can accommodate them, flow restricting or other water-saving devices should be installed.
7. Review usage patterns to see where other savings can be made.
8. For processing and cooling and other uses where possible, either reuse water or use from sources that would not adversely affect public water supplies.
9. Advise employees, students, patients, customers, and other users, not to flush toilets after every use. Install toilet tank displacement inserts; place flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets; close down automatic flushes overnight.
10. Adjust flushometers and automatic flushing valves to use as little water as possible or to cycle at greater intervals.
11. Encourage water-consciousness by placing water-saving posters and literature where employees, students, patients, and customers, etc., will have access to them.

Suggestions on limiting non-essential use and recommendations on water-saving fixtures and methods:
1. Reduce laundry usage or services by changing bed linen, etc., only where necessary to preserve the health of patients or residents.
2. Use disposable food service items.