The fluoridation of public drinking water has been a recent topic of discussion in the news following a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Augusta Water continues to follow all guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for fluoridation and remains in compliance with applicable limits. Augusta Water will continue to follow the discussion closely and make any necessary changes to remain in compliance with EPA and VDH standards.
Customers can view the most recent water quality report, including information about fluoridation, for their area at augustawater.com/waterquality. If you have additional questions, please contact our office during regular business hours at 540-245-5670 or by email at customerservice@augustawater.com.
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Clothes Washer
Purchase Energy Star rated washers – they use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. To conserve even more water and energy, only wash full loads of laundry. -
Dishwashers
Running a full load of dishes should save water over washing dishes by hand. -
Hot Water
To reduce the amount of water wasted while waiting for the water to get hot, wrap your hot water pipes with insulation material or install an under the sink instant water heater. -
Kiddy Pool
Instead of letting kids run through the sprinkler, buy them a kiddy pool. -
Outdoor Watering
Water your lawn during early morning hours to minimize evaporation, and avoid watering your sidewalk or driveway. Do not leave the hose running continuously; use a nozzle instead. Consider a soaker hose that applies water directly to the soil. Also, consider installing an underground irrigation system. -
Running Water
Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave. -
Showers
Save water by taking showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while a 10 minute shower uses only 25 gallons or less. If you have an old shower head, replace it with a new 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) shower head. Consider placing a bucket in the shower to collect excess water that you can use to water plants. -
Softeners
Install water softeners only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation. -
Toilets
Consider replacing your toilet if your house was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced. It is very likely that you do not have an efficient 1.6 gallons per flush toilet. If you have an older toilet, fill a plastic bottle with water and add pebbles or sand for weight. When placed in the tank, the bottle will allow less water to fill the tank, which helps conserve water. Do not use a brick as it may flake and clog valves. Avoid flushing your toilet unnecessarily. Place tissues, bugs, and other such waste in the trash.