ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a drought warning advisory for the Shenandoah Drought Elevation Region, which includes Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah, Page, Warren, Frederick, and Clarke counties, and for the Northern Virginia Region that includes Loudon, Arlington, Prince William, Fauquier, and Fairfax counties.

This means water levels have dropped significantly due to lack of rainfall and hotter temperatures which have increased water use.

The Virginia Department of Enironmental Quality is asking community members to reduce water use.

Here are a few ways residential users can reduce water consumption:

  1. Check toilets for leaks. A leaking toilet can waste over 100 gallons each day.
  2. Take shorter showers. Just 90 seconds less each day can save hundreds of gallons a month.
  3. Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. Don’t waste an entire flush to dispose a tissue.
  4. Turn off the water while brushing teeth or shaving.
  5. Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are full.
  6. Water lawns only when needed. If grass springs back after stepping on it, it doesn’t need water. Only water lawns early in the morning or in the cool of the evening.  Morning is better as it helps prevent the growth of fungus.
  7. Don’t use a hose to clean driveways, walkways, and steps. Use a broom or blower instead.
  8. Rinse fruits and vegetables in a bowl of clean water instead of under a running faucet.

Commercial Users can reduce water consumption by:

  1. Implementing an interior retrofit for all high-water use faucets and materials.
  2. Restricting washing of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or any other paved surface, except in the case of meeting health and safety standards.
  3. Prohibiting operations of fountains at commercial sites.

Check out more tips and resources for lower water consumption, and how to prepare in case of a drought, at https://www.ready.gov/drought.