By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The holiday season often means households are using more water than usual.
There are big meals to prepare with cleanup to follow, extra guests and relatives in the house, and the natural Christmas tree which needs regular watering.
Holly Dickman, Hays water conservation specialist, has some tips to keep water usage in check and save on water bills.
Holiday water-saving tips
• Thaw frozen foods such as turkeys and hams ahead of time in the refrigerator instead of using the "speed-thaw" method in a sink full of water.
• Collect water used to rinse fruits and vegetables to water houseplants, including live Christmas trees.
• Use the proper size pots and pans for cooking. Larger pots may require more water than necessary for the food being prepared, such as boiling potatoes.
• Scrape leftover food from plates into the garbage instead of rinsing the plates or washing scraps down the garbage disposal which can use gallons of water each time.
• Use the dishwasher when possible. A full dishwasher is much more efficient than washing by hand.
• If you do need to wash dishes by hand, fill one basin with soapy water and fill the other with rinse water. Don't let the water run continuously.
• Check toilets for leaks before holiday guests arrive, and make necessary repairs.
• Consider installing faucet aerators, low-flow shower heads, high-efficiency toilets and washing machines, all of which can drastically reduce water usage in the home year-round. Several aerator and low-flow shower heads are available free from the city of Hays. Rebates are also offered for installation of high-efficiency toilets and washing machines.
There are more water saving tips and rebate information on the city's website at www.watersmarthays.com.