Plumbing maintenance is often the first step to cutting down on water waste during Lexington’s hot summer months.
As temperatures climb, water consumption typically rises too, from more frequent showers to increased lawn watering. Reducing water waste during hot summer months can significantly lower your utility bills while also supporting environmental conservation efforts in your community.
We know that fixing leaky faucets, installing efficient fixtures, and adjusting outdoor watering routines can help preserve this limited resource. These actions also reduce energy consumption, since less water needs to be treated, heated, and delivered.
None of this means giving up comfort or curb appeal.
By keeping sprinkler systems in check, sealing silent leaks, and staying alert to issues that require emergency plumbing, you protect your home and the city’s water system.
In this article, we’ll walk through simple ways to use less water, optimize your system, and stay ahead with consistent plumbing maintenance.
The following topics will guide you through:
Let's dive in!
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), household leaks can waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year, and 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.
Lexington faces unique water conservation challenges during the summer months that impact both residents and city infrastructure.
The combination of rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and increased demand puts significant strain on local water resources.
Summer temperatures in Lexington regularly climb into the 90s, dramatically increasing water demand across the city. This heat drives up evaporation rates from soil, plants, and open water sources.
Higher temperatures lead to increased water usage through air conditioning systems, more frequent showers, and additional landscape watering. According to local data, water usage can increase by up to 50% during peak summer months compared to winter.
Climate change has intensified these effects, bringing longer and more severe hot spells. The pressure this puts on the city's water systems only grows during extended heatwaves.
Environmental stressors like drought conditions make things worse by reducing natural water replenishment just as demand rises. In these periods, relying on consistent plumbing maintenance and timely plumbing services becomes essential, not just to avoid waste, but to prevent system failures under pressure.
Lexington relies primarily on the Kentucky River for its water supply, managed by Kentucky American Water. During summer, precipitation patterns become increasingly erratic.
Summer storms, while intense, often don't provide sustainable relief. The high-volume, short-duration rainfall typically results in runoff rather than ground absorption, limiting its effectiveness for replenishing water supplies.
Water sources face additional strain during dry periods between rainfalls. These fluctuations can trigger conservation alerts, as recently happened when flooding affected water treatment capabilities.
The irregular precipitation creates a challenging management scenario where water supply can fluctuate dramatically from week to week, requiring careful monitoring and sometimes usage restrictions.
Events like these also increase the urgency of regular sewer inspection, especially in older neighborhoods where stormwater can overload outdated systems. Prioritizing sewer inspection helps reduce risks of backups, overflows, and long-term infrastructure damage.
Routine drain cleaning can protect your indoor air quality during high-humidity months.
Summer conditions create ideal environments for biological contaminants in water systems. Warm temperatures accelerate bacterial growth in standing water.
The Division of Water Quality works continuously to manage these risks through treatment and testing. However, summer presents unique challenges as heat and occasional flooding can introduce new contaminants.
Stormwater systems face particular risk after heavy summer rains. Overflow events can potentially introduce bacteria from various sources into water systems.
Mold growth becomes a concern in humid summer conditions, particularly in homes and buildings where water leaks or condensation occur.
This creates secondary water waste issues as people run water longer to flush systems. In these cases, drain cleaning is essential, not just to clear blockages, but to prevent stagnant water, bad odors, and the buildup of harmful bacteria.
Managing outdoor water use effectively can save thousands of gallons during Lexington's hot summers. Smart irrigation techniques and proper equipment can reduce waste while keeping your landscape healthy.
Drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and runoff. These systems use 20–50% less water than conventional sprinklers while improving plant health. When installing, group plants with similar water needs together to avoid overwatering.
Smart controllers adjust watering schedules based on weather conditions and soil moisture levels. Many models connect to local weather data and automatically skip watering when it rains.
For traditional sprinkler systems, install efficient sprinkler heads that produce larger water droplets. These resist wind drift and evaporation better than mist-type sprayers.
Professional installation ensures proper coverage and pressure. While DIY is possible, professionals can design systems that account for your yard’s specific zones and needs.
Long term, integrating smart irrigation with regular plumbing maintenance helps reduce unnoticed losses caused by underground leaks or faulty valve connections. Homeowners can also benefit from a seasonal plumbing membership to stay ahead of small issues before they become costly water waste.
Rain barrels capture water from downspouts for later garden use. A single 55-gallon barrel can fill during a moderate rainstorm, providing free water for plants. Most hardware stores sell ready-to-install kits with filters that keep debris out.
Position barrels on elevated platforms for better water pressure. Multiple barrels can be linked together to increase capacity during heavy rainfall periods.
Greywater systems reuse water from sinks, showers, and washing machines for landscape irrigation. Simple systems divert washing machine water directly to outdoor areas.
Both methods reduce demand on municipal water supplies and lower water bills. But it’s also important to monitor how this water interacts with your property’s infrastructure.
A quick sewer camera inspection can help detect whether roots, debris, or buildup are obstructing flow. When paired with consistent plumbing maintenance, these conservation efforts deliver long-term efficiency without creating hidden risks.
Pressure-reducing valves prevent water waste from excessive pressure. High pressure creates mist that evaporates quickly and doesn't reach plant roots effectively. Most systems work best at 30–50 psi.
Filters prevent clogging in drip irrigation and sprinkler heads. Clean filters monthly during heavy use seasons to maintain efficiency.
Backflow preventers protect your drinking water from contamination. These are required by most local codes for irrigation systems.
Water quality test kits help monitor pH and mineral content. This information allows you to adjust your watering practices for optimal plant health and water conservation.
Smart valves with leak detection can automatically shut off water if unusual flow patterns indicate a broken pipe or fitting.
These tools are especially effective when used alongside routine plumbing maintenance, helping you catch small problems before they cause major waste. If you're unsure when to check your system, a quick drain inspection can reveal issues before they escalate.
Mulch around plants reduces evaporation and keeps soil cooler. Apply 2–3 inches of organic mulch, leaving space around stems and trunks to prevent rot.
Plant native species that require less water once established. Kentucky natives like purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan thrive with minimal irrigation.
Create rain gardens in low areas to capture runoff. These planted depressions slow water flow, allowing it to soak into the ground rather than contributing to erosion.
Use permeable paving for patios and walkways. These surfaces allow rainwater to filter through rather than running off.
Ground covers and deep-rooted plants help prevent soil erosion on slopes. Their root systems hold soil in place during heavy rains, reducing water pollution from sediment runoff.
But when runoff begins pooling around foundations or low-lying areas, it’s often a sign that drains backing up need to be addressed. In these cases, professional drain cleaning ensures excess water is properly redirected and erosion damage minimized.
Water conservation requires action at multiple levels. We can make significant impacts by changing habits in our homes, working together as a community, and implementing smart agricultural practices.
Inside our homes, fixing leaks promptly saves gallons of water daily. A dripping faucet can waste up to 3,000 gallons yearly. Install water-efficient fixtures like low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets that use half the water for liquid waste.
In the kitchen, run dishwashers only when full and keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until it's cold. When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink rather than letting water run continuously.
For outdoor conservation, water early in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation. Installing soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems delivers water directly to plant roots with minimal waste. Mulching garden beds helps soil retain moisture longer.
Before watering lawns, step on the grass, if it springs back, it doesn't need water yet. Setting mowers higher (3–4 inches) promotes deeper root growth and drought resistance. As a foundation for all these practices, ongoing plumbing maintenance is what ensures your system runs efficiently and without waste behind the scenes.
Composting food scraps and yard waste reduces the need for water-intensive garbage disposal use. It also creates nutrient-rich soil that retains moisture better than regular soil, reducing garden watering needs by up to 30%.
We should collect rainwater in barrels for garden use during dry periods. A single rain barrel can save approximately 1,300 gallons of water during summer months.
Proper recycling reduces manufacturing water usage. Producing new paper products from recycled materials uses 50% less water than making them from raw materials.
Clearing debris from storm drains and ditches prevents flooding and helps direct rainwater to where it's needed. Keeping gutters clean ensures rainwater flows properly and can be captured or directed to gardens. When buildup is ignored, blockages can form in underground lines, leading to backups and overflow. In these cases, drain cleaning plays a crucial role in preventing wasted water and damage to surrounding areas.
Rotational grazing helps maintain healthy pastures that retain more moisture. By moving livestock regularly, we prevent overgrazing that leads to soil compaction and runoff.
Growing drought-resistant crops like oats requires less irrigation while still providing good yields and nutritious silage for animal feeding. Monitoring soil moisture levels helps determine when irrigation is truly needed rather than watering on a fixed schedule.
Collecting and reusing water from livestock operations can significantly reduce farm water usage. Simple solutions include capturing roof runoff from barns and recycling water used for cleaning equipment.
Increasing the dry matter content in animal feed reduces the amount of water livestock need to drink. For every 1% increase in feed dry matter, cattle drink approximately 1% less water.
To maximize these gains, it’s essential to pair water-saving practices with proper infrastructure upkeep. On farms and rural properties, plumbing maintenance helps prevent leakage, wasted pressure, and inefficient use of stored or recycled water systems.
Community initiatives and environmental impacts
Lexington's community efforts to reduce water waste extend beyond individual actions. These initiatives address broader environmental concerns while engaging citizens in protecting our water resources.
The Lexington Council for the Arts has partnered with the city's environmental programs to raise awareness about water conservation. They've created public art installations near Massachusetts Avenue that visualize water usage patterns in the city.
Their "Only Rain Down the Drain" campaign features colorful storm drain murals that remind residents that water entering these drains flows untreated into local waterways. These art projects make environmental education more accessible and engaging.
Community workshops hosted by the Council teach residents about the connection between daily habits and water quality. Through these creative approaches, more citizens understand how their actions affect local watersheds. These programs also emphasize the importance of proactive sewer inspection, particularly in older urban areas where blockages and backups can disrupt entire neighborhoods.
Data collection from these awareness campaigns shows a 15% increase in public knowledge about water conservation practices since their implementation.
Water conservation directly impacts our carbon footprint. When we reduce water usage, we decrease the energy needed to treat, heat, and transport water, cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Lexington's water treatment facilities have implemented energy efficiency measures that reduced their carbon emissions by 22% since 2020. These improvements include solar-powered pumping stations and methane capture from wastewater processing.
The city's water utility provides carbon footprint calculators that show households how water conservation translates to emissions reduction. A typical family saving 1,000 gallons monthly prevents approximately 100 pounds of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.
Community water conservation efforts collectively prevent thousands of tons of greenhouse gases annually, making a significant environmental impact similar to programs in other Midwest communities. Efficient plumbing maintenance contributes directly to these efforts by minimizing avoidable leaks and extending the performance of systems that rely on energy-intensive water processing.
Illegal dumping of chemicals and waste significantly threatens Lexington's water quality. The city has established a dedicated hotline for reporting water pollution incidents, resulting in faster response times to contamination events.
Regular Creek Sweep events provide residents with cleanup kits to remove litter from waterways before it affects water quality. These community cleanups prevent harmful materials from increasing water salinity and introducing toxins.
Water quality monitoring stations throughout the city now provide real-time data on contamination levels. This information helps identify problem areas where enforcement should be increased.
The city's stormwater management program emphasizes that storm drains lead directly to waterways without treatment. Their education campaign explains why only rain should enter these systems, not chemicals, trash, or other pollutants.
In many of these cases, debris and improper disposal cause serious blockages, making professional drain cleaning a necessary part of public infrastructure upkeep, not just in homes, but across the city.
Water conservation is integrated into Lexington's affordable housing initiatives. New developments include water-efficient fixtures and rainwater harvesting systems that reduce strain on the municipal water supply.
Urban mitigation strategies like permeable pavement and rain gardens in housing developments help filter stormwater naturally. These features prevent runoff pollution while replenishing groundwater supplies, similar to successful models from the Great Plains region.
The city offers rebates to affordable housing developers who exceed water efficiency standards. This incentive program has increased the number of low-income units with comprehensive water-saving features.
Community rain barrel programs provide free or subsidized collection systems to residents in affordable housing complexes. These simple tools help families reduce water bills while supporting ecosystem health and productivity in urban green spaces. Alongside these measures, ensuring consistent plumbing maintenance across these developments helps keep water usage efficient and infrastructure in working order for the long term.
Lexington’s summers bring real challenges when it comes to responsible water use, but the solutions aren’t complex. From irrigation systems to citywide awareness campaigns, small changes in behavior and infrastructure can lead to meaningful impact.
What makes the biggest difference is staying consistent. Whether it’s cleaning out gutters, setting a watering schedule, or investing in seasonal plumbing maintenance, being proactive helps protect both your home and the community’s resources.
The best place to start? Choose one system in or around your home and make it more efficient today.
