Captain Conservation, Gainesville’s caped crusader, doesn’t take a break just because it’s summertime. He says it’s still vital to conserve water and fight the tyrant water abusers.

“We are in worse shape than we were at this time last year. And the other problem we are running into is we are getting less rainfall than we did earlier on, our streams are also dropping in flow amounts.”

Captain Conservation, who works days with Gainesville’s Public Utilities Department, said his main goal is to reach all citizens, young and old, to make sure everyone’s precious H20 isn’t squandered.

To prepare for the hot summer months, Captain Conservation recently had a change in his appearance. His new look is muscle-laden and a blue and green mohawk was added for extra flare.

“Because conservation has become such a huge thing over the last two years, via the drought and the low levels of Lake Lanier, we had to kind of beef our program up and so we beefed up Captain Conservation.”

(Captain Conservation also said kids love to touch his mohawk.)

Since long showers and leaky faucets are Captain Conservation’s biggest enemies, he says to follow his water conservation tips.

“Water conservation tip No. 12: Always turn the water off while you brush your teeth; you’ll save between 3 and 4 gallons of water ... Water conservation tip No. 34 is to make sure the toilets are only used for two things, not used as a wastebasket.”

And of course, water conservation tip No. 78.

“Make sure when you are watering outside, following the outdoor watering restrictions, to water early in the morning. Watering early in the morning and it decreases evaporation rates.”

Also, he pointed out to check irrigation systems — one of the biggest abusers.
“Make sure that you check to see that the nozzles are pointed toward your grass and not toward the road.”