- Flush less often.
Region-wide, this could save more than 3 million gallons
each day. Also, don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket for
tissue and the like. Want to do more? Consider
replacing any older toilets in your home with new low-flow
models that use 1.6 gallons per flush. Toilets ten years or
older may be using three-and-a-half to seven gallons per
flush.
- Shorten your shower by
one minute. Cut back on your shower time and you will
rack up big savings in water and energy. If you really want
to try and save water, limit your shower time to five
minutes or less. Also, install a water-saving showerhead
that uses two-and-a-half gallons per minute.
- Fix leaking faucets and
toilets. Research has shown that an average of 8% (or
more) of all home water use is wasted through leaks. Test
for a leaking toilet by lifting the lid off the toilet tank
and putting a few drops of food coloring into the bowl. Wait
a few minutes, then look in the bowl. If the food coloring
has made its way there, you have a leak.
- Wash only full loads
of laundry in your washing machine or full loads of dishes
in your dishwasher. You'll not only save water, but energy
as well. Want to do even more? Consider purchasing a new
water- and energy- efficient clothes washer.
- Turn the water off.
Minimize faucet use when shaving, brushing teeth and washing
dishes . Replace older bathroom faucet nozzles (aerators)
with new ones that are rated at 1-gallon per minute.
- Reuse clean household
water. Collect all the water that is wasted while
waiting for the hot water to reach your faucet or
showerhead. Use this to water on your houseplants or outdoor
planters. Do the same with water that is used to boil eggs
or steam vegetables.
- Take showers instead of
baths. A bathtub holds up to 50 gallons of water- much
more than a normal shower would use. (A typical shower uses
less than 20 gallons.
- Don't pre-rinse dishes.
Check if your dishwasher can clean dishes without
pre-rinsing them. Most newer dishwashers don't require
pre-rinsing.
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