Resolve to Save Water in the New Year
Start 2018 out the right way by saving water and money inside and outside your home. Water – Use it Wisely can help with an interactive home water audit that is so user-friendly, the whole family can get in on the fun. And it’s a great way to learn more about water conservation.
To get started, take the home water audit. Figure out how much water you’re using and commit to cutting back your water usage by 10 percent. Then check out the helpful 12-month Water Planner with tips for conserving water throughout the year.
Resolve to save water and do at least one thing each day. Even if savings are small, every drop counts. Here are some basic things every household can do to save water.
In the Kitchen
- When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you, not the drain.
- Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and reuse it to water houseplants.
- Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
- Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle to cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
Around the House
- Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1,000 gallons a month.
- Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
- Reward kids for the water-saving tips they follow.
- One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day. Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
- When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
In the Bathroom
- Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
- Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
- Use a WaterSense® labeled showerhead.
- Replace your old toilet. If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing an updated WaterSense® labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.
- At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.
Outdoors
- When you clean your fish tank, use the water you’ve drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
- Check your irrigation system and pool — including faucets, pipes, and hoses — for silent leaks that waste water.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and/or sidewalk.
- Water Plants deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
- Learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks.
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