Water: Waste Not, Want Not

Water blog - 11-20-15As much as the majority of us would like to decrease water consumption around the home, we seldom do much about it. So the next time you are about to fork out money for your water bill, pause for a few minutes. Consider that the average household uses 130,000 gallons of water annually, and without much effort or any noticeable lifestyle change, you and your family could cut water use by as much as 35% (44,000 gallons). With that knowledge, multiply your current water bill you’re paying by 65% and see if saving that much on every bill is worth the time and effort to switch to these recommended water-saving suggestions.

  • Check all your faucets and household pipes for leaks. The drip from a single worn washer can consume 20 gallons of water a day.
  • Look at all toilets for leaks by putting a small amount food coloring in the tank. Then check back in a half-hour to see if the color appears in the bowl. By replacing the toilet flapper and other necessary parts, you’ll save many wasted gallons.
  • Install aerators in faucets that don’t already have these inexpensive water-conserving devices. Kitchen faucets at 2.2 gpm (gallons per minute) and bathroom faucets at 1.5 gpm or lower are suggested. You’ll use a lot less water because the flow will seem stronger.
  • Low-flush toilets use 1-2 gallons per flush instead of 3-5 gallons. If your toilets aren’t low-flush, you can still lower water use by adjusting to 3 gallons in the tank, which often worksjust as well.
  • Put these habits into practice when washing yourself, your clothes, your food or dishes and cars: take shorter showers; turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving; use the sink stopper when cleaning vegetables or hand washing dishes and glasses; do only full loads of clothes or dishes; use a bucket of soapy water to wash the cars and limit hose use to rinsing away the suds and dirt.
  • Cut down on outdoor water use by planting drought-resistant grasses, shrubs and plants. Mulch around plants and trees to reduce water evaporation, and avoid watering lawns on windy days.
  • When watering lawns, limit to an inch per week, apply in the early morning, and leave the grass taller (up to 3 inches) to better retain moisture. Put an old tuna can on the lawn when watering and when it’s full, you’ve reached an inch. Use a broom or blower to clear sidewalks and driveways instead of hosing them to remove leaves or grass clippings.