As people become increasingly concerned with reducing the enormous strain our lifestyle puts on the environment, many people are thinking about water conservation. Americans use vast quantities of water for bathing, irrigating and cleaning. In fact, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, 419 billion gallons of water per day were used in the United States during the year 2005 alone. While people may still need to bathe, there are ways to reduce your water usage during a shower. This is important, since a shower longer than eight minutes uses more than 40 gallons of water, according to the University of Minnesota.
Efficiency
There are several steps you should take before taking a shower to ensure the best possible efficiency for your water saving efforts. For example, EarthEasy.com suggests insulating your bathroom pipes to help conserve water. Insulated pipes will deliver hot water faster, reducing the time you spend running the water until it heats up, says EarthEasy.com. The U.S. Department of Energy also suggests checking for and fixing leaks to save water and money.
Reduced Flow Fixtures
Another way to save water during showers is to install water-conserving shower heads and bathtub faucets. Low-flow fixtures are inexpensive and can save you anywhere from 25 to 60 percent in water usage, says the U.S. Department of Energy. Low-flow fixtures work by reducing water flow from the typical 5 gallons of water per minute to 2.5 gallons of water per minute, notes the University of Minnesota.
Turning Off Water
If you want to save even more water while taking showers, you can turn off the water while washing. Turn on your shower to get wet and then turn the water off while washing with soap. Turn the shower back on to rinse the soap off. This saves a considerable amount of water that would normally be running down the drain while you take your showers, notes EarthEasy.com. This method can also be used while shaving or brushing your teeth to reduce your overall water usage in the bathroom.
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