Surprise, Surprise. . .Every Drop Really Does Count!
Posted by Ryan on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
It may not seem like much. But the water you save by turning off that faucet when brushing your teeth or by taking a slightly shorter shower, can lead to hundreds, and even thousands, of gallons (and dollars!) saved in the long run.
During the month of February, Water – Use it Wisely is highlighting the sometimes surprising ways you can save water. Visit www.wateruseitwisely.com for ideas on ways you and your family can save water in your home each day. Remember – there are a number of ways to save water and they all start with you!
For homes built after 1992, toilets use about 1.6 gallons per flush and can account for an astonishing 26 percent of indoor water use. A running faucet goes through about 2.2 gallons each minute.
And, showerheads use about 2.5 gallons per minute. Knowing that, it’s a simple calculation to determine how much water you can save by minimizing the water you flush or let run down the drain.
Following are a few ways to keep water from running down the drain:
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save up to 80 gallons of water every time.
- Time your shower to keep it under five minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
- Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It’s easy to fix by replacing the flapper and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
- Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive and can save up to 140 gallons a week.
- Before you lather up, install a low-flow showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week.
- Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. A family of four can save 200 gallons a week.
- Reach for the scoop only when you have a full load of dishes or clothes and save up to 600 gallons each month.
For more water saving tips, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com. There, you can also take a user-friendly home family water audit and sign-up to receive a monthly water saving tip to remind you of your resolution and to keep you conserving all year long.
Tags: Environmental, Green, Water - Use It Wisely, water conservation
