Water Conservation Tips

Simple Saving Tips in the Home

• Do not fill the tub to the top when bathing and take shorter showers.
• Do not flush the toilet needlessly.
• Fix leaky faucets, pipes, toilets, and save hundred of gallons per week.
• Keep a jug of drinking water in your refrigerator to avoid running water until it is cold enough to drink.
• Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full or adjust the water level setting accordingly.
• Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth, shave, or do dishes.

Leaky Toilets

The trickling sound you hear in the bathroom could be your toilet wasting 50 gallons of water a day thousands each year.

Try this test at home! Put a few drops of blue food coloring in your toilet tank. Do not flush. If color appears in the bowl within 10 to 15 minutes, you have a leak. To repair it, the flush valve (also known as flapper valve) or the valve seat may need to be cleaned or replaced. Parts are inexpensive and easy to install.

Leaky Pipes

Check under your sink, behind your washing machine, and around the basement plumbing for suspicious looking wet areas. Leaks not only waste water - they could be damaging your walls, floors, and ceilings.

Dripping Faucets & Showerheads

Worn-out washers - the cause of most dripping faucets and showerheads - cost most dripping faucets and showerheads - cost pennies to replace and are easily installed

Ways to Make Your Home More Efficient

Make Your Old Toilet a Water Saver

• Install one of several new toilet retrofit products available at hardware stores. Some only work with certain toilets, so get a recommendation from your local plumber on the right one for you.
• Reduce the volume of each flush by placing a toilet dam or a water-filled plastic bottle weighted with gravel in the tank if you have no already installed a 1.6 gallon toilet.

Water Efficient Showerheads

Some showerheads may still use 3 to 7 gallons or more per minute. Install a showerhead that uses 2.5 gallons per minute or less available at hardware stores.

Faucet Aerators

Low-flow faucet aerators mix air with tap water to reduce the flow to 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per minute. Faucets without aerators may be using 3 to 7 gallons per minute!

Water & Energy-Efficient Appliances (Energy Star Label)

High-Efficiency Washers: Unlike traditional machines, which must be filled to the top with water in order to immerse clothes, front-loading washers use about 25 gallons per load. Front-loaders also save energy too, about 50% or more by using less hot water. To help defray the incremental costs of these new models, some gas and electric utilities offer incentives.

Dishwashers

Newer energy and water efficient dishwashers exceed minimum federal government standards. These newer models operate on 13 to 25% less energy and on as little as six gallons of water per load. Benefits to you: lower utility bills, improved washing systems that eliminate pre-rinsing, and less energy used to heat the water to clean the dishes.

When selecting new appliances, check the water and energy efficient ratings in manufacturer's specifications or consumer magazines and look for the Energy Star label.