Watching Water Use – Every Drop Counts!
Watching Water Wasters
THE TOILET
Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded, or bent parts. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
THE SHOWER/BATH
Replace your showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute. In the shower, instead of increasing the hot or cold water flow to adjust the water temperature, try decreasing the flow to achieve a comfortable water temperature. Don’t let the water run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.
THE KITCHEN
Minimize the use of kitchen sink disposals; they require a lot of water to operate properly. Start a
compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run to get a cool glass of water. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow stream of water from the faucet. Use the dirty water to run your sink disposal if necessary. Fully load automatic dishwashers; they use the same amount of water no matter how much is in them.
APPLIANCES
Unlike your dishwasher, the amount of water your washing machine uses is adjustable; adjust according to the load size. Look for water saving washing machines and buy them. Horizontal loading machines use less water than top-loading machines. Install a hot water recirculation device. By recirculating water that would otherwise go down the drain, you can save 2-3 gallons of water for each shower taken or 16,500 gallons a year per household. Never install a water-to-air heat pump or air conditioning system. Air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water. Install water-softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.
EVERY DROP COUNTS!
