Save Water

Beard More ... Shave Less!

About our beard model: Adam is a crew leader in the water department, fixing leaks, installing meters and lots of other jobs that help GRU provide safe and reliable drinking water to our customers. Over the past 13 years, he has worked his way up from doing irrigation for the City of Gainesville to his current position. “I guess we can consider that a pretty big accomplishment,” he humbly says. We sat down with Adam (well, Zoomed him, actually) to find out more about his job, his conservation efforts and his beard.  

What's is your favorite part about working at GRU?   

I have an opportunity to be out and about helping people, fixing leaks and working with some good people – making an impact on the community and being there for the customer.    

Has working at GRU changed your water conservation habits at home?  

I’ve got two girls, so one likes to fill the bathtub up. I teach my kids to take shorter showers, not to fill up the bath too much, not to sit there with the water running after they brush their teeth. I also watch my irrigation schedule. I irrigate in nighttime hours when it's dark so the water doesn't evaporate in the heat of the day.  

How long have you been growing your beard?    

Probably eight years.  

Did you ever think you and your beard would be the star of a GRU campaign?   

Not at all. When they came to me, I was happy to do it. It was fun.  

When you used to shave, how long did it take?   

About five minutes or so because I always kind of had facial hair, and I let the sink run while I was doing it. Now, my hair, I’m bald, and I can do that while I’m showering. I am already in there and not standing at the sink. When you're shaving, you're gonna have to stand at the sink to watch yourself, whereas, when I’m shaving my head, I just do it in the shower real quick, and I’m done.   

After learning about how not shaving can save water, will you continue to grow your beard to enhance your conservation efforts?   

Absolutely!  

How do you think this campaign can help GRU inspire other customers to save water?   

Obviously, a beard is not for everybody. It might bring light to the fact that when you are shaving maybe not keep the water running. Some people can't grow a beard or can't grow it for work, whatever the reasoning, but it can definitely teach people to be more mindful of their routine.  

Aside from saving water, what are the pros to having a beard?   

Well, I mean, it looks awesome!  

 - As told to Gwyneth Malesich, GRU intern

Short Hair, Don't Care!

Barbara Misener may keep a short cut, but she doesn’t take any. A supervising engineer in the Water/Wastewater Department, Barbara has worked at GRU for 12 years, taking great pride in the relationships she’s forged around the utility and her continued commitment to energy and water conservation.

What do you find gratifying about your job?

Being a problem solver and helping people in the community get water and sewer service.

Did you ever think you and your hair would be the star of a GRU campaign?

Absolutely not did I ever think that my hair and myself would ever be the star of a GRU campaign.

What made you decide to keep your hair short? Did you previously have long hair?

It was long for a while, and I was working out a lot and I have curly, thick hair, so it takes forever to dry. I was swimming a lot, and I wanted to always take showers to get all the gook off you. Having shorter hair is easier to maintain.

What are the pros (aside from saving water) to having short hair?

I might take more showers, but I take shorter showers. I just get in and get out. I’m trying to teach my son to do that, but it’s not working very well.

Did you recognize the substantial amount of water you were saving when you decided to cut your hair?

I came to that realization quickly. You look at your water bill and you're like, oh, wow, this is good. I came to the realization quickly that I was taking shorter showers and saving money on my bill.

What other ways do you save water in your home?

I try not to run the water when I’m brushing my teeth or washing the dishes. I don't irrigate. I try to conserve water and be conscious with my water use.