Water Conservation at Home

Learning about water conservation at home is an important first step in green living. It's amazing how much water we can save around our homes if we just pay attention to how we use our water.

Water is usually so plentiful that we tend to not pay attention to how much we are using until the water bill comes. By making a few small changes, you can:

• Minimize water pollution in nearby watersheds and rivers by lowering the load on municipal sewer systems
• Extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation
• Save money on your water bill

You can have water conservation at home. All it takes is a little preplanning.

• Stop leaks – A small leak can waste 20 gallons of water each day. A large leak can waste hundreds of gallons. Check all faucets, shower heads and toilets for leaks, making repairs where necessary. After you have fixed all the leaks, turn off all the taps and check the water meter over a two hour period. If the water meter is still running, you have a leak somewhere in your home or garden.
• Check toilets for leaks – Place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Don't flush the toilet. Check after 30 minutes. There is a leak in the toilet if the food coloring appears in the toilet bowl.
• Replace old toilets – New low flow toilets only use 1.6 gallons per flush compared to older models that can use up to 5 gallons per flush.
• Stop using toilets as wastebaskets – Frequent flushing to get rid of soiled facial tissues or cigarette butts is a waste of water.
• Insulate water pipes – You can find pre-split foam insulation at the home store that will install easily. With insulation you won't have to waste so much water while you wait for the water to get hot.
• Install low-flow shower heads – An inexpensive low-flow showerhead, combined with shorter showers, will result in major water savings.
• Turn off water while brushing teeth, shaving or hand washing dishes – Learn to shut off the water while you brush, shave or wash dishes. Free-running water is a major water waster.
• Save "warm-up water" – Keep a bucket in the shower to capture the water until the shower is hot enough for your shower. Use the captured water on your plants.

• Replace old clothes washers – You can have major savings in water and energy if you replace old washers with Energy Star rated washers that use as much as 50% less water and energy per load.
• Run full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer – Resist the urge to wash a few items at a time. Instead, wait until you have a full load.
• Minimize the use of garbage disposals – A disposal requires a lot of water to complete the liquefaction process. Start a compost pile to dispose of food waste.

• Check irrigation systems – Leaking or misaligned sprinklers can be big water wasters. The older the irrigation system, the greater the chance for leaks. Check surrounding cement and street gutters after a watering cycle for signs of over watering.
• Replace overly thirsty landscaping – Be sure your plants, ground covers and trees are appropriate for your local weather and soil conditions. If not, you may end up using significant amounts of water to keep them green.
• Don't over water landscaping – Adjust the timing and operating days of the sprinkler system to only water the minimum amount of water needed. Use drip irrigation and soaker hoses to place the water where it is needed.
• Use rainwater to water plants – Install a rain barrel to capture rainwater. It's an easy and inexpensive way to conserve water.
• Don't water a lawn too frequently – A lawn does not need to be watered if it springs back after you have stepped on it.
• Don't put too much water on a lawn - Deep soak the lawn to get the roots wet. To test if you've watered enough, put an empty tuna can on your lawn while you are watering. When the can is full, your lawn has enough water.
• Don't water in the wind – A large part of the water will blow away and not benefit your lawn.
• Mulch – Mulch will slow down the evaporation of moisture from the soil. You can water less frequently.

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• Low Flow Toilets
• Category:Low-Impact Living
• Ways to Save Water
• Water Conservation Calculator
• Water Saving Devices