Water conservation tips

Faucets :

Installing Low-Flow shower heads and faucet aerators is the single most effective water conservation savings you can do for your home.

Standard faucet aerators will allow flow rates of 2.5 - 5 gallons of water per minute. But for bathroom faucets, low-flow aerators that deliver 0.5 to 1 gallon (1.9 to 3.8 liters) of water per minute will deliver the same force of spray, but often in a more pleasing fashion. Kitchen faucets may require a higher flow rate of 2 to 4 gallons (7.6 to 15.1 liters) per minute if you regularly fill the sink for washing dishes. If you tend to let the water run when washing dishes, the lower flow rate of 0.5 to 1 gallon per minute may be more appropriate. Some kitchen aerators will allow you to flip between two flow rates without affecting the water temperature.

Here are some figures on faucet water usage: 15% of an average household’s daily water consumption is through faucet use. In a family of four, where each person uses the bathroom sink for 6 minutes each day, using a 0.5 gallon per minute aerator (instead of a 2.5 gallon per minute aerator) would reduce the daily household water consumption by 48 gallons per day, which totals 17,520 gallons annually.

Installation couldn't be easier. Aerators simply screw onto the faucet head, usually after removing the existing screen. That's it.

Compared to the standard faucet aerator with a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute your flow rate reduction will be:
1.5 gpm = up to 40%
1.0 gpm = up to 60%
0.5 gpm = up to 80%

You can buy them at most hardware stores, home improvement centers, online, or at energy-conservation outlets. They typically cost between $0.50 and $3.00. You'd be hard pressed to find a wiser three-dollar investment.

Shower :

Low-flow showerheads are efficient. They can significantly reduce your household water consumption without a noticeable difference to your shower experience. The term “low flow” is generally defined as a showerhead with a water consumption rate of 0.5 to 2 gallons per minute (gpm).

Showerheads are measured by flow—the number of gallons they deliver per minute (gpm). Flow is affected by water pressure, measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The greater the pressure pushing water through pipes and showerheads, the greater the volume of water forced out.

Water pressure on the high side—80 psi, for example—will push a greater amount of water through a showerhead than low water pressure, say 20 psi. This same principle is in effect when you don't turn on the water full blast.

Installing a low-flow shower head in your shower is not just good sense, it's a breeze.

Your shower uses around 22 percent of the total water you use in your home (if your home is average). A good portion of that water takes a detour through your water heater, raising your energy bill on its way to soaking your head. You can assume that with an old standard shower head, a 5-minute shower would use about 30 gallons of water. If you have more than one person in your home, or you take longer showers . . . well, you do the math. I just know it's a lot of hot water.

For best efficiency, you should get a low-flow shower head with a shut-off valve. This allows you to turn off the water while soaping up, then turn it back on instantly without having to readjust the temperature.

Toilet :

Put plastic bottles or float booster in your toilet tank. To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. Or, buy an inexpensive tank bank or float booster. This may save ten or more gallons of water per day. Be sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.

Water saving tips:

Take shorter showers. One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.

Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.

Rinse your razor in the sink. Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.

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.

When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing. If your have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a panful of hot water. If using a dishwasher, there is usually no need to pre-rinse the dishes.

Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables just rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan of clean water.

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge. Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful.