We often take for granted the easy access to safe, clean water provided to us by residential plumbing. While it may seem like we have an endless supply, only 1% of water is safe for human use. The majority of water on Earth is either saltwater in oceans, frozen in polar ice caps, or inaccessible. The demand for water continues to increase with population growth while our resources remain the same.
Water is essential to how we go about our daily lives. From the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we use water for a multitude of reasons. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, most households use an average of 300 gallons of water per day. As concern for the environment grows, it’s important to learn new ways to conserve water. Here are 10 ways you and your family can conserve more water around the home.
10 Easy Water Conservation Habits to Use in Your Home
1. Keep your faucets turned off.
Do you leave the water running while you shave, wash your face, or brush your teeth? This can waste gallons of water each year. Turn the faucet off until you’re ready to rinse. When shaving, consider filling a small bowl of water for rinsing instead of running water. You’re likely to use far less water in a bowl.
2. Collect excess water in a bucket.
Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as you wait for it to heat up. Instead of wasting the water, you can use it to water your plants or clean around the house.
3. Only run full loads of dishes.
Make sure your dishwasher and laundry loads are completely full before running them. Additionally, you should consider running your dishwasher on the “light” cycle if possible.
4. Use the sink to wash dinnerware.
Instead of washing dishes with running water, fill the sink up with soap and water. Let the dishes soak and then wash them off. While it seems like it takes a lot of water to fill the sink, more often than not, you will use far less than running water.
5. Replace your toilet.
Older toilets can use up to 2 gallons more than the newer high-efficiency toilets. If your toilet is more than 10 years old, it’s time to go shopping for a new one.
6. Watch what you flush.
Before you flush trash down your toilet, consider how much water you’re using for each individual item. Every flush uses five to seven gallons of water. Keep a trash can in your bathroom for toiletries that are not meant to be flushed, such as tissues and Q-tips.
7. Consider a shower versus a bath.
The average American’s shower is less than 10 minutes long and uses 17.2 gallons of water. In general, showers use less water than baths. If you’re unsure, you can test this by leaving your drain closed the next time you shower. You might find you use a lot more water than you realize.
8. Install low-flow showerheads.
Low flow showerheads only use about 2 gallons of water per minute. This can reduce your water bill by 25 to 60 percent, according to the US Department of Energy.
9. Consistently monitor your water bill.
Start tracking your water usage each month. Not only will you be able to compare the cost to usage, seeing how much water you use may inspire you to be more serious about cutting back. Keeping track of your water usage will also alert you to any spikes, which could be caused by leaks.
10. Enlist the help of a plumber.
If you notice a leak, it’s important to get it fixed immediately. Keep an eye out for leaks around your toilet, faucets, and any other plumbing fixtures that are used often. If you continue to ignore a leak, not only will you be wasting water, but you will inevitably be spending more money.
[Free resource: The 10 Most Common Causes of Leaky Pipes]
We’re an Oklahoma residential plumbing company, servicing OKC and the surrounding areas.
Water conservation is not only important for the environment, but it’s also important for your wallet. BL3 Plumbing is dedicated to providing high-quality services to our community, which includes helpful tips and tricks. Start saving water today — give us a call at (405) 237-1414 for more information about how to save on your water bill.
