Water conservation has always been a concern for homeowners; however, the combination of global warming, extended droughts, and rising energy costs have placed an even greater emphasis on the need for homeowners to conserve water, especially hot water. Even in areas in which there seems to be an abundance of water, residents are concerned about developing habits that will allow them to be more judicious in their water usage.
In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation also helps preserve the environment by reducing water pollution in nearby rivers, lakes and watersheds. A good water conservation strategy can also serve to extend the life of septic tanks by reducing the level of soil saturation. Following are some of the top ways that you can conserve water in your home.
Check Faucets and Pipes for Leaks
It should be no secret that plumbing leaks are the most common cause of overuse and water waste in the home; however, what may not be common knowledge is the extent of waste that water leaks cause. Some conservative estimations by experts suggest that something as simple as a worn faucet washer can hemorrhage as much as 20 gallons of unused water per day. In addition to personal inspection, it would be wise to have at least an annual home plumbing inspection conducted by a certified plumber to detect existing leaks as well as identify any potential problems.
Resist Using the Toilet as a Wastebasket or Ashtray
It is actually quite common for people to use their toilet as a means of disposing of items that should be disposed of in a wastebasket or a trashcan. What should be understood is that each time that you flush the toilet to dispose of a cigarette, facial tissue or any type of small piece of trash, you literally waste as much as seven gallons of water.
Reduce the Size of Your Toilet
While most cities are making it mandatory that any newly installed toilet be four gallons or less, there are many residential homes that have toilets that were installed prior to these new codes going into effect, so there are toilets with five to seven-gallon capacity. Old porcelain toilets can literally last for decades, but high gallon capacity toilets are not necessary for normal use. Actually, it is next to impossible to find larger toilets at home care centers like Lowes and Home Depot, so when you go to buy a new toilet, you will automatically be downsizing to a toilet size that will allow you to conserve more water with each flush. In the mean time, you could use a float booster or water bottles to minimize the capacity in your toilet’s water tank.
Install Water-saving Shower Heads
The fact that most people allow the water to run the entire time that they are in the shower means that showering is an ideal situation to waste hot water, which will not only cause water waste; but depending on the water heating source, it will also increase the gas or electric bill. By installing shower heads that are designed to save water, it can significantly reduce the amount of water used during the course of taking a shower. Low-flow, water-saving shower heads and restrictors are very inexpensive, and they are also easy to install.
Conclusion
By following these simple steps, you will be able to reduce your water consumption drastically, without having to invest an exorbitant amount of money in the process.
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