The City Of Fort Dodge is asking residents to decrease their water usage. Fort Dodge is currently in the moderate drought category, D1. D1 corresponds to an area where damage to crops and pastures can be expected and where fire risk is high, while stream reservoir or well levels are low.

Thank you to everyone for your cooperation and assistance. By taking voluntary steps to conserve water usage now, we hope to be able to avoid restrictions later. In keeping with its request to the community, the City is taking necessary, steps to decrease its water usage where possible.

Following are some easy tips you can implement in your everyday life:
Be smart about your usage outdoors.

If you water your lawn, try to cut consumption in half. Don’t overwater. Remember that the cost of watering your lawn this summer has increased as a result of the water quality improvement project.

Water lawns early in the morning during the hot summer months. Watering in the heat of the day leads to evaporation before the moisture reaches your lawn. Watering between 10 am and 5 pm should be avoided.

There’s no need to water your sidewalks or driveways. Use a broom or rake instead.

When washing the car, turn on the hose only for rinsing.

If you have a pool or hot tub, make sure to maintain proper chemical levels and adequate circulation time. You’ll have safer, cleaner water and avoid the need to drain the pool as often. Install a solar cover on your pool. The average uncovered pool loses one inch of water per week. Covering your
pool can save up to 50% of water lost to evaporation.

Be smart about your usage indoors.
Turning off the water while brushing your teeth will save about 25 gallons each month.

Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.

Don’t let the water run for the 20 seconds while washing your hands. Water can be turned off while washing
and scrubbing and be turned on again to rinse.

Ice left in your glass? Dump it on a plant instead of in the sink.

Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.

No dishwasher? No problem! Fill one sink with was water and the other with rinse water to avoid letting the water run.

Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when full. This will save up to 1,000 gallons a month.