“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.” – Henry Van Dyke

As we move past the start of meteorological spring (March 1) toward the spring equinox (March 20), the official beginning of the spring season, it seems like winter weather has only recently arrived here in the York/Cape Neddick area. While the days are getting noticeably longer and maple syrup buckets start to appear on the trees, soon the daffodils will be re-emerging as welcome symbols of rebirth and regrowth.

Water is flowing abundantly over the dam at Chase's Pond, lulling us once again at this time of year into believing that we have more than enough water to satisfy the town’s needs. Times of apparent abundance of this precious natural resource should never give cause to being wasteful of water. Water conservation needs to be a year-round effort so that sufficient water is always there when we need it.

As many of us start to transition from spending most of our time indoors to outdoor activities, staff at York Water District would like to share some ideas on ways to conserve water, both indoors and out. So go ahead out there and start getting your hands dirty again, but please remember to shut off the faucet after washing up to come back inside.

Introduction written March 2023.

Spring Conservation for the Outside

• Check outside hose connections for leaks.

• Choose plantings that require less watering, like aloe, lavender and daylilies.

  • Plants that are native to your region will also require less water!

• Boost water retention by adding compost to your garden.

• Keep grass length 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long to help reduce evaporation.

• Leave grass clippings after mowing to assist with water retention.

• Harvest rainwater for gardens with a rain barrel or catchment system.

• Water early in the morning or late in the day to prevent evaporation.

• Use timers to limit water use.

• Make sure to weed the garden. Weeds will take water meant for your plants.

Conservation for the Bath

• Listen for gurgling sounds coming from the toilet. The flush valve may need to be repaired.

• Check toilets for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring in the tank. The color will appear in the bowl usually within 15 minutes if there is a leak.

  • We also have dye tablets at York Water District if food coloring is not available.

• Take 5-minute showers.

• Turn the water off while shampooing and soaping up.

• Install low-flow faucet aerators.

• When shaving, put a few inches of water in the sink to rinse off the razor.

• Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.

Photo of grass by Danielle Eagle on Unsplash.

Additional courtesy and staff photos above.