Poster designed by Shaun Farrell and Melissa Kinney, Facilities Management

University Launches Water Conservation Campaign As Students & Faculty Return

August 25, 1999 -- When the University of Virginia population suddenly balloons with the students and faculty arriving amid the area's worst drought in years, they'll be met with reminders and requests to conserve water. U.Va. conservation officials have worked furiously the last two weeks to launch an intense information campaign for water conservation.

Some suggestions are:

• Take 5-minute showers (shorter is even better) to conserve water and prevent pollution.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running tap water to get it cold for drinking is wasteful.
• Wash only full loads of laundry; select the proper water level for the load.
• Report leaks and repair requirements.
• If you're a water drinker, at the end of the day when you clear off your workspace, instead of pouring leftover water down the drain, use it to water the plants in the office.

"While those of us who've been here all summer are well aware of the drought conditions and the need to conserve, a reminder is helpful because our community does not have an endless supply of water," said Tony Motto, Energy Program Manager. "But we know we have many folks arriving from the West Coast and abroad who may not be aware of the low water reserves caused by the harsh summer. We want them up to speed on this situation."

Campaign features include water conservation tips listed on table-tent cards being placed in every University dorm room and resident facility, hangtags on shower heads in all housing and recreational facilities, conservation tip bookmarks inside each "U.Va. Recycles" mug being distributed at orientation, and brochures being mailed to about 15,000 University and Health System faculty and staff.

The community water reservoirs are down to 77 percent of capacity as of Aug. 23. The University purchases water from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County which are supplied by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. Currently the City and County have voluntary water conservation underway.

"We believe voluntary compliance will be successful at U.Va. because we have a conscientious and informed population," Motto said.

For more information or to arrange for a photo contact Tony Motto, Energy Program Manager, at 982-5893.

Contact: Betty Wooding, (804) 982-5846

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: please contact the Office of University Relations at (804) 924-7116. Television reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.
SOURCE: U.Va. News Services

ALL 1999 NEWS RELEASES

Top news site edited by Jane Ford (jford@virginia.edu); maintained by Karen Asher (kac@virginia.edu); releases posted by Suzanne Raileanu (sr3r@virginia.edu).
Last Modified: Friday, 27-Aug-1999 16:54:43 EDT
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