Everyone Can Help
Water conservation is something we all should practice. Except for the air we breathe, water is the single most important element in our lives. It is too precious to waste. Here are some useful facts and simple suggestions that will help you understand more about water. They can help you save hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
The bathroom is where you can make the most substantial reduction in your personal water use. About 50% of the water used in an average home is used in the bathroom, mostly for flushing toilets and for showers and baths. A lot of that water may be going to the sewer needlessly, adding to the volume of sewage and putting extra burden on treatment plants as well.
General Tips
A single dripping faucet can waste far more water in a single day than one person needs for drinking in an entire week. Fix a dripping faucet immediately. Check every faucet in the house for leaks.
Toilets are notorious for their hidden leaks. Leaks occur when the toilet is out of adjustment or when parts are worn, so it is important to check periodically. Most leaks are at the overflow pipe or plunger ball. Learn more about hidden leaks.
Turn off the water while brushing teeth or shaving. Running water during that time wastes more than what one person needs for drinking for a week.
Always be sure to have a full load when running your dishwasher or washing machine. Both of these household appliances use the same amount of water, whether full or not. You will not only be conserving water, but energy and electricity as well.
Showers Versus Baths
Which uses more water: a shower or a tub bath? It all depends: a partially filled tub uses much less than a long shower, while a short shower is much more water efficient than a brimful tub.
If you shower in a bathtub, check by plugging the tub to see how high the water is when you're finished. Do you use more or less than that amount when you take a bath?
