Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.
Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)
Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)
Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.
Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.
Families affected by tougher water restrictions MONROE, N.C. -- With only about 100 days worth of water supply left, everyone in Monroe will pay the price beginning Monday. A 15 percent water rate increase will kick in to encourage further conservation.
“We’ve only got one shot to get this right as far as restricting the water,” said City Manager Craig Meadows.
City leaders estimate that the rate increase will only cost the average family an extra $1.64 a month.
"I can understand they are saying we have 100 days for water but you have to consider people like me, I have a big family," said Debora Watson.
When a family surpasses the average use of 6,000 gallons, they’ll pay five-fold for the extra water.
Watson claims she can’t take short cuts.
"State law, we have to constantly wash our hands,” Watson said. “I’m constantly washing the kids. I'm cleaning up all day so I am using a lot of water."
The Watsons used more than 10,000 gallons last month. Their bill will increase by more than $40 a month if they don’t cut back.
Monroe’s main water source, Lake Twitty, is more than 15 feet below normal and city leaders know that everyone must sacrifice and cut back.
“My household is one that uses more than 6,000 gallons a month and I’m going to be talking to my children about the fact that we don’t need to flush the toilet as often,” said Meadows.
To supplement the city’s water supply, Monroe is purchasing as much as $45,000 worth of water each month from Union County.
