The average American family of four uses almost 150,000 gallons of water per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Using more efficient toilets, faucets and accessories alone will save 11,000 gallons of water per year. But big water savings come from simple, personal conservation practices we can follow every day.
Cleaning
When you do laundry, wait until you have a full load. If you need to wash in smaller quantities, use a corresponding water level.
Use the dishwasher for full loads as well, and decrease the rinse time if you have a newer model dishwasher, which has more power.
Wash your car at commercial businesses which recycle water, rather than in your driveway.
Point-of-Source Savings
Letting the faucet run while you wait for the water to get hot wastes thousands of gallons each year and raises your water bill. Install point-of-source water heaters near the kitchen or bathroom sinks to ensure instant hot water when you turn on a faucet or turn on the shower. Insulate the pipe leading from your hot water heater to keep hot water from passing through a cold pipe.
Toilets, Baths & Showers
Don't use the toilet as a garbage can. Throw tissue, dental floss, bandages or other items in the garbage can. If you need to put them in the toilet, wait until later to flush. Buy a low-flow toilet, or purchase a displacement device if your toilet was made before 1992.
Buy low-flow shower heads. If you take baths, plug the drain before you begin filling the tub, even if it takes a minute for hot water to make it to the tap. The rest of the hot water will heat the small amount of cold water you initially draw from the tap.
Personal Care
If you have to wait for hot water to make it to the bathroom sink, consider brushing your teeth with the hot water tap on, using the cold water until the hot water comes out, then shaving or washing your face or hands, instead of vice versa. Don't brush your teeth or shave your face with the water running the entire time. Take shorter showers and wash your hair with the water off, then rinse.
Outdoors
Water lawns and gardens less frequently, for longer periods for conservation and better landscaping. Two 15-minute waterings do not equal one 30-minute watering, because the 30-minute watering will water your lawn and plants deeper, encouraging deeper root growth. Water before and after the sun is out to prevent evaporation of the water you're sprinkling or spraying.
Put mulch or other organic materials around the bases of shrubs and trees to help retain moisture and prevent evaporation.
If you have a watering system, install a rain sensor so the system doesn't come on while it's raining. Check your outside faucets several times each year for leaks, which can occur any time and cost you money and lost water.
Member Comments