Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contacts: Erin Jordahl-Redlin, 651-297-5518 Laurie Gustafson, 651-215-0230 Saint Paul, Minn. -- A leaky faucet dripping at the rate of one drop per second will waste around 2,700 gallons per year, adding to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or straining your septic system. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) offers some easy and beneficial steps you can take to conserve water on a regular basis: · It's a flush! One way to reduce water in your home is to switch to an ultra-low flow toilet, which typically use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. If you have an older toilet in your home, it may be using up to seven gallons per flush! · Visit h2ouse.net. On this Web site you can use a Water Budget Calculator or take the Water Saver Home Tour. The site provides you with many more suggestions to raise the level of water conservation in your home. · The Metropolitan Council also offers a variety of water conservation tips, from checking regularly for leaks to installing water saving devices throughout your household. Find them at www.metrocouncil.org/index.htm. For more tips and ideas, sign up to receive the Living Green 365 e-newsletter at www.livinggreen.org. The mission of the MPCA is to work with Minnesotans to protect, conserve and improve our environment and enhance our quality of life. Find out more at www.pca.state.mn.us.