Water Saving Tips

Water conservation starts at home, where our daily use of faucets, showerheads, dishwashers and toilets all add up to some unsightly numbers. Fortunately, you can dramatically reduce your water usage through helpful tips you can use throughout your home.

Here are just a few simple and inexpensive tips that can have a significant impact on your water usage.

1. Check faucets and pipes for leaks

A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.

2. Check your toilets for leaks

Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install. If you're in the market for a new toilet, consider buying a WaterSense labeled toilet. Replacing older, less efficient toilets with High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) to save up to 16,500 gallons of water per year.

3. Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators

Water saving low-flow shower heads or restrictors are easy for the homeowner to install. "Low-flow" means it uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute.
Also, all household faucets should be fit with aerators. This single best home water conservation method is also the cheapest! Swaping out your 2.75 gpm showerhead with a 1.75 water-conserving showerhead and you can save more than 7,700 gallons of water per year.
* Based on an average of seven-minute for a family of four.

4. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads

Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation. Most makers of dishwashing soap recommend not pre-rinsing dishes which is a big water savings.
With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse. For partial loads, adjust water levels to match the size of the load. Replace old clothes washers. New Energy Star rated washers use 35 - 50% less water and 50% less energy per load. If you're in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving frontload washer..

5. Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks

Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

Here are a few links to the EPA WaterSense website for more information.

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/water_efficiency/fix_a_leak.html

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/test_your_watersense.html

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/water_efficiency/what_you_can_do.html

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/products/toilets.html

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/products/bathroom_sink_faucets.html

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/products/showerheads.html

http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/water_efficiency/benefits_of_water_efficiency.html

Water Conservation Summary

In 1990, 30 states in the US reported 'water-stress' conditions. In 2000, the number of states reporting water-stress rose to 40. In 2009, the number rose to 45. There is a worsening trend in water supply nationwide. Taking measures at home to conserve water not only saves you money, it also is of benefit to the greater community.

Saving water at home does not require any significant cost outlay. Although there are water-saving appliances and water conservation systems such as rain barrels, drip irrigation and on-demand water heaters which are more expensive, the bulk of water saving methods can be achieved at little cost. For example, 75% of water used indoors is in the bathroom, and 25% of this is for the toilet. The average toilet uses 4 gallons per flush (gpf). You can invest in a ULF (ultra-low flush) toilet which will use only 2 gpf. But you can also install a simple tank bank, costing about $2, which will save .8 gpf. This saves 40% of what you would save with the ULF toilet. Using simple methods like tank banks, low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators you can retrofit your home for under$50.

By using water-saving features you can reduce your in-home water use by 35%. This means the average household, which uses 130,000 gallons per year, could save 44,00 gallons of water per year. On a daily basis, the average household, using 350 gallons per day, could save 125 gallons of water per day. The average individual, currently using 70 gallons per day, could save 25 gallons of water per day.
When buying low-flow aerators, be sure to read the label for the actual 'gpm' (gallons per minute) rating. Often, the big box retailers promote "low-flow" which are rated at 2.5 gpm, which is at the top of the low-flow spectrum. This may be needed for the kitchen sink, but we find that a 1.5 gpm aerator works fine for the bathroom sink and most water outlets, delivering the same spray force in a comfortable, soft stream.

Finally, it should be noted that installing low-flow aerators, showerheads, tank banks and other water-saving devices usually is a very simple operation which can be done by the homeowner and does not even require the use of tools. Water conservation at home is one of the easiest measures to put in place, and saving water should become part of everyday family practice.
Inexpensive and simple to install, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce your home water consumption as much as 50%, and reduce your energy cost of heating the water also by as much as 50%.
This conservation of water and energy is not only good for the environment, but the savings in your utility bills will pay for the cost of the aerators within a few months. From then on, you enjoy continued savings.