City of Ames

Water & Pollution Control Department

300 East 5th Street
Building 1
Ames, Iowa 50010

Phone:
(515) 239-5150

FAX:
(515) 239-5251

Water and Pollution Control Department

Conservation > Renter's Tips

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	Whether or not you are directly paying for water how much you use and the cost of water do affect rental charges. Conservation also helps the environment, the community, and the treatment facilities. Here are some ways to help conserve water in the kitchen and laundry: Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge rather than running the tap waiting for it to become cold. Use the garbage disposal as little as possible. Run the dishwasher and the washing machine for full loads only. (Running most dishwashers uses about 12 gallons of water; washing machines can use over 40 gallons.) Soak pots and pans rather than running the water while you scrape them clean. When watching dishes by hand put a stopper on either side of the sink and use one side to wash and one to rinse. Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl using a vegetable brush rather than letting the water run.
	The following are ideas on how to save water in the bathroom: Report leaks to your property manager. You can check the toilet for leaks by putting a couple of drops of food coloring in the tank or pick up some free leak-detection tablets by calling the water plant at 515-239-5150 or pick some up at the information desk in City Hall at 515 Clark Avenue. If in 15 minutes the color from the tank has made it into the bowl, you have a leak. Do not use the toilet as a trash can. Encourage your property manager to replace inefficient fixtures with low-flow and ultra low-flow models. While brushing your teeth, remember to turn of the faucet. Turn off the water while you shave, rather fill up the sink to rinse the blade. Take shorter showers. Call 515-239-5150 for free showerhead flow restrictors or pick them up at the information desk in City Hall at 515 Clark Avenue.