Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 09/10/2012

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The Lower Rum River Water Management Organization (LRRWMO), which includes all of Ramsey and Anoka. as well as portions of Andover and Coon Rapids. is an organization that seeks to improve and protect lakes. rivers. streams. groundwater and other water sources across municipal boundaries. The LRRWMO member communities are:xery it located on the Anoka Sand Plain and, as the name implies, is dominated by mostly sandy soils. Sandy soils have low water holding capacity, so water used to irrigate yards moves down through soil and out of the root zone area quickly. Summer lawn watering in Ramsey. especially on sandy soils. increases the amount of water used per day (in Ramsey. water use -almost triples water usc to over 5 million gallons per day! This , which has contributed to Ramsey being identified as one of the largest users of non -consumptive water in the metrol. As Ramsey's populations continues to grow in the member communities. the demand for water will also grow. ecy'vCumulatively, the population of the member communities of the LRRWMO is forecasted to increase by roughly 123,000 people by the year 2020, putting tremendous pressure on the groundwater supply, or aquifer. As demand for water continues to rise, the aquifer, our current source of drinking water, will be depleted more and more. While groundwater is replenished by precipitation, activities such as pumping (wells), increasing impervious surfaces (roads, rooftops, driveways, etc.), and climatic changes alter recharge rates, and potentially diminish the recharge of aquifers. Continued depletion of the aquifers could result in the need for communities to explore alternative options for water. such as drawing from the Mississippi River. which would require the construction of water treatment facility. Below are a few examples of is a list of quick and easy ideas to reduce water use inside and outside:y es :u t,Ai,xe wxtz xzc your home. Ideas for Conserving Viste. Tixloor3 { Formatted: Normal (Web), Space Before: 0 pt, After: 0 pt • When upgrading appliances, consider air-cooled air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. for significant water savings. • 'lh.-V b(xket in thc shower talc to collect the water while you wait for the water to get hot. Use tItiv-rntter to flush toilets oc water trx d shrubs. • Upgrade older toilets with low -flush (low -flow) models. If your toilet is older than 1995, you can retrofit it with a tank -based displacement device. • Compare resource Zvi gr e ig Iiw£ters. Selecting the best mxh tk,xt 1oaA/w,xter tti g r.el 'y t"%x7x w_KklA 1p reduce water usc. • Obtain FREE dye strips from the City of Ramsey. Put them in your toilet to check for leaks into the toilet bowl. While you're at it, fix that leaky faucet. All those drips add up. • Insulate hot water pipes for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for energy savings. • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving. • Toss those u:,eel tiren r athcr kx them. kxs& t &x1:th t and save up to 600 gallons of water a month. • Water p;svtc s tt��kcr./,itk 3Idtvt ovate rttiz :t x sir✓ ate 1 cte w-s4 or w it-S cleaning time, and ice cubcs yea love dropped on thc floes ✓y ac ielent.