COLUMBIA, SC - As the severe drought lingers, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources is encouraging all South Carolinians to voluntarily conserve water. The S.C. Drought Response Committee met Jan. 23 in Columbia and decided to maintain the drought status at "severe" for all South Carolina counties except Jasper and Beaufort, which will remain at moderate. The Committee was also concerned because forecasters expect below normal rainfall for February through April 2008.

With little relief on the horizon, state climatologist Hope Mizzell urges South Carolinians to now begin voluntary conservation measures. "We believe it's incredibly important for all South Carolinians to take individual initiative in doing what they can to conserve water. If we all work together now, we can hopefully avoid more stringent restrictions if the drought does continue."

Contact State Climatologist Hope Mizzell at (803) 734-9568 in Columbia for more information about the ongoing drought.

DNR offers these tips for water conservation in and around your home.

CONSERVE WATER IN THE HOUSE:

• Install a water-efficient showerhead (2.5 gallons or less per minute).
• Take shorter showers.
• Use less water in the bathtub. Filling the tub uses about 50 gallons of water. Try bathing in about 10 gallons. Plug the tub when you shower to see how much water is just going down the drain.
• When you buy a new toilet, purchase a low flow model (1.6 gallons or less per flush).
• Check your toilet for "silent" leaks by placing a little food coloring in the tank and seeing if it leaks into the bowl.
• Avoid using the toilet as a trash basket for facial tissues and similar items. Each flush uses 5 to 7 gallons of water.
• Turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving.
• Reduce the use of garbage disposals, which use as much as 2 gallons of water per minute, by peeling vegetables, eggs and other foods on newspapers. Wrap the food waste and dispose of it with the trash. Or, use food waste in a garden compost pile.
• Keep a gallon of drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap for cold water.
• Run your washing machine with a full load of clothes. Match your washer’s load selector to each load size. Wash with warm water instead of hot, rinse with cold water instead of warm. Wash with cold water when you can. (When possible) hang your wash out to dry.
• Buy an energy-saving washing machine. Buy an Energy Star model and save water and electricity.
• Use a front-loading washing machine. The newest innovation in washers is the front-loading washing machine. These save even more water and electricity.
• Wash only full loads of dishes in dishwasher. A dishwasher uses about 14 gallons of water per load.
• Teach children to turn water faucets off tightly after use.

CONSERVE WATER OUTSIDE THE HOUSE:

• Use drought-tolerant plants and grasses for landscaping and reduce grass-covered areas.
• Cut your grass at least three inches high to shade the roots, making it more drought-tolerant; keep your mower sharp for the healthiest grass.
• Water yards wisely. Remember that landscaping is most likely your number one user of water. Your lawn and plants benefit most from slow, thorough and infrequent watering. Minimize evaporation by watering in the early morning or evening.
• Mulch to retain water. Spread leaves, lawn clippings, or landscaping tarps around plants. Mulching also controls weeds that compete with garden plants for water.
• Install a drip-irrigation water system (with a timer is even better) for valuable plants.
• Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation.
• If you use porous pavement (gravel is a good example) instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways, the rain can recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk.
• Wash your car less often or wash it at a car wash where they clean and recycle the water. If you do wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose.

DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.