Conservation Tips

You can help protect our future water supply by making your home more water efficient. The bathroom accounts for about 75 percent of indoor water use. The Kitchen and laundry uses account for another 20 percent, while only 5 percent is used for cooking and drinking in the home.

Installing a few inexpensive water saving devices could save you more than 30,000 gallons of water for the year and if you have city or county water, cut your monthly water and sanitary sewer bill in half.

Retrofitting your home, replacing old plumbing fixtures with water saving ones, is a simple way to protect our drinking water supply and save money. Some retrofit plumbing fixtures restrict the flow, while others displace volume. Most retrofit devices will pay for themselves within six months by reducing your water and sewer bill. They all help you do your part to protect our water resources. Unless your house was built in the last few years, you probably have pre-conservation era plumbing that guzzles water.

Here are some suggestions to get you started on water conservation in your home:
Ultra-low-flush toilets – Old models consume about 5 gallons per flush (gpf). New ultra-low flow toilets use 1.6 gpf to as low as .6 gpf. Advantages include:

• Can be installed by a plumber in 30 to 40 minutes
• Uses 70 to 90 percent less water than do conventional toilets
• Cost usually ranges between $80 and $775

Toilet dam – They can be found at most hardware stores. You can make your own by filling a half-gallon milk jug with water and placing it in the tank. Just make sure that nothing impedes the internal mechanisms and test flush to determine that there is enough pressure to do the job. Advantages include:

• You can install in minutes
• Saves 20% of your current water usage
• Costs between $3 and $5

Kitchen faucet aerator with on-off control valve – Because you’ll also reduce hot water use, you will also reduce your electric bill. Also, repairing leaking faucets can save up to 2,000 gallons of water per year. Advantages of installing a faucet aerator include:

• Easy 5 minute installation
• Saves 20% - 40% of current water usage
• Saves 30 to 45 kilowatt hours per year
• Costs between $2 and $10

Low flow showerheads

• Easy 10 minute installation
• Saves up to 4.5 gallons per minute or 40% to 65% of the water you are now using
• Saves 455 to 630 kilowatt hours per year

The cost is between $5 or up to $40 if you prefer a designer massage showerhead

How much are you using in gallons?

Other Water Conservation Tips

• Make sure that your home is leak free. 
• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of the load you are using. 
• Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats. 
• Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce both heating costs and water bills. 
• Reuse household water instead of just pouring it down the drain. Other uses include watering a plant or garden, or for cleaning. 
• Don’t install a water-to-air heat pump or air-conditioning system. Newer 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. 
• When adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning the water flow up, turn the offender down to balance the temperatures. 
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water. 
• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator (much safer too) or by using the defrost setting on your micro-wave. 
• Use the minimum amount of water needed for by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. Adding hot water can warm the initial burst of cold water. 
• Don’t let water run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth. Brush your teeth first while waiting for the water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the sink or basin.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow moving stream from the faucet. 
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet. Remember that toilet tissue is biodegradable, tissues and paper towels are not.
• Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a blower or broom to clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Using a hose to clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water. 
• Outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle that can be adjusted down to a fine spray so that water flows only as needed. When finished, turn the water off at the faucet instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
• Use hose washers between the spigot and the water hose to eliminate leaks. Check all hoses, connectors, and spigots regularly for leaks. 
• Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended-ed. Your garden hose can put out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours. 
• Consider a new water-saving pool filter for your pool. A single back flushing with a traditional filter uses 180 to 250 gallons or more of water.

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