Not only does decreasing water waste save money on utility bills, but also water conservation helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds. As one of Montgomery County’s largest water and energy users, the NIH must manage our water resources carefully to minimize our effect on the environment.
The CC Green Team is focusing on decreasing water waste by:
- Checking faucets for leaks, especially in the Magnuson Center
- Ensuring sprinklers are not used on rainy days
- Investigating efficiency of appliances and buying energy efficient products
- Installing low-flow water faucets where possible
Here are ways you can help support this effort:
- Report a Drip!
If you spot a leaky faucet or pipe in Building 10, report it to the Maintenance team right away. Call 301-435-8000 or enter your request online.
- Don’t use a toilet as a wastebasket.
Every time you flush a facial tissue or other small bit of trash, five to seven gallons of water are wasted. Also, such trash can end up clogging our sewer system.
- Turn off faucets when they’re not in use.
Many of the CC’s faucets have motion sensors and turn off automatically. But if you’re using a regular faucet, be sure to turn it off when it’s not in use. Faucets left running waste an average of two gallons of water per minute!