Leesburg offers help to residents looking to conserve water

LEESBURG — Looking to save water or lower your utility bills? Leesburg Water Conservation Coordinator Rachel Novak's goal is to help residents assess their water usage and educate them on how to conserve water.

“What Rachel does is an important component of our utility outreach programs,” said City Manager Al Minner.  “We are excited to have Rachel on our team and hope residents and customers contact her to help conserve our natural resources.”

Simple things, such as properly adjusting the timer on an irrigation system or installing low-flow fixtures, can make a big difference in water usage. Updating landscaping by adding mulch and Florida friendly plants is another way to reduce water consumption.

Novak also suggests that customers review utility bills on a regular basis to look for spikes in water use which could indicate an undetected leak.

“My job is to teach residents how they can save water in and around their homes,” said Novak in a press release. “This leads to lower costs for the customer and also benefits the environment.”

Regularly checking sprinkler systems for leaks is recommended as even small leaks can waste hundreds of gallons or more each month.

“As each home conserves, it can really add up,” said Novak. “We found a home that was using 200,000 gallons of water each month due to a water leak they didn’t know about. By fixing that problem, just that one home will be saving over 1 million gallons a year.”

Novak schedules presentations at the Leesburg Public Library, as well as offering outreach programs for home owners associations and schools.

To request a residential evaluation or group presentation, email Novak at Rachel.Novak@leesburgflorida.gov. For additional information, visit the Leesburg's water conservation page at www.leesburgflorida.gov.