The U.S, like many other countries across the world, experiences periods of drought. It’s a stark reminder of the invaluable nature of our water sources; a resource we simply cannot live without.
The responsibility of the conservation of our water supplies comes down to each and every one of us. With an ever-growing population, every drop of water counts just as much as the next. Even the smallest changes in our water consumption habits matter greatly.
Around half of all water used within the home is used in the bathroom. Identifying where we are consuming excess amounts of water is the first step to making a change. It’s important to remember that it’s not just changing our habits, but also integrating more efficient systems into our bathrooms which will help in conserving water.
We have laid out a few important water conservation tips to consider when remodeling your bathroom:
1. Install a Water-Efficient Toilet
With around 30 percent of a home’s water consumption being flushed down the toilet, swapping out an old inefficient toilet with a water-efficient, low-flush model can reduce water consumption by 30 to 60 percent!
A low-flush (AKA low-flow) toilet uses a lot less water per flush, saving in the long run. But it’s important to remember that not all low-flush toilets are created equal, so don’t pinch your pennies! Go for a WaterSense-labeled model, even if you have to fork out a bit more, you will save in the long run.
2. Assess Your Bathtub Needs
Some of us just really love a good bath, as a way to unwind from the stresses of the world.
Baths use about twice as much water as a shower, a bath using around 25-50 gallons of water, as compared to a 10-minute shower (equipped with a low-flow showerhead), which uses about 25 gallons of water.
Often we view baths as a treat, something we indulge in at the end of a long week. If this is the case, and you only plan on having a bath every week or every few weeks, then I wouldn’t worry too much. But if you are a bonafide bath addict and plan on soaking in a bath every night, completely unable to kick the habit… then it’s worth investing in a water-saving bathtub.
A water-saving bathtub is an ingenious invention, which has been designed and engineered around the contour of the human body. It also includes a tilting feature. Since the majority of the mass of the body is kept in the torso region, this feature allows you to tilt the bath so that most of the water is kept around the upper body, the legs section of the bath, still holding enough water to cover the legs.
3. Use a Water-Efficient Shower Head
Water-saving shower heads work by limiting the volume of water which is released through the shower head.
There are two types of low-flow showerheads available; ‘Aerating’ shower heads and ‘Non-Aerating’ shower heads. Non-aerating showers work by simply pressuring the water in the shower head and squeezing it out through small holes. The effect of this is slightly harder than usual water. Aerating shower heads are generally a little bit more luxurious. They work by mixing the water with air, expelling soft, bubbly water; which is a much softer and generally more enjoyable showering experience.
Look For the WaterSense Label!
When you are choosing which water-saving bathroom products to purchase, you will have many choices and might feel a little overwhelmed. The WaterSense program helps take the mystery out of it, making it easier to find water-efficient products which have been thoroughly tested and meet the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) criteria for efficiency.
If you find a product with the WaterSense label, you can be assured it uses at least 20 percent less water.
You may also be interested in these related articles
- 5 Tips to Conserve water in the Bathroom Throughout the New Year
- Detect and Chase Down Leaks with the 10-Minute WaterSense Challenge
- Buy or Remodel Green for Comfort, Health, and Water Efficiency
- Home Water Challenge
Water – Use It Wisely is proud to feature guest bloggers who write about topics related to water and water conservation. The author of this blog post, Daniel Calvin, works for Custom Heat, who specializes in underfloor heating for your home; floor heating provides radial and efficient home heating. We take pride in providing the highest quality products, paired with good old fashioned service.