Water Saving Devices

With the 2007 fires in California, brought on in part by severe drought, and the water rationing programs being implemented throughout the drought-stricken Southeast, more and more households are interested in water saving devices. You don’t have to make a big investment to improve water conservation at home, and in fact, you’ll save on bills, which is good news for both your bank balance and the planet’s future.

A low-flow shower head is a cheap water saving device that adds up to big savings.

Did you know that a lot of water is wasted just because pipes are not fitted properly? It’s worth the cost of a plumber’s visit to have your pipes checked. You could be wasting hundreds of gallons a year, to say nothing of hundreds of dollars, without even knowing it.

Of course, you know that shorter showers use less water, but you can further cut down on water use without any compromise on pressure with the right water-saving showerhead. One good model is the Spoiler, which has three settings: regular, massage and combo and a pressure compensator that guarantees a consistent spray velocity. There is also the Spoiler-P, which has a cunning pause system that allows the shower to slow while you are soaping up, thus saving even more water, but not freezing you in the process. Having a hard time deciding what showerhead will work best for you and your bathroom? Your local plumbing supply shop should be able to assist with any questions, especially if you have an older shower.

Although it is a major investment in terms of purchase and installation, a low-flow toilet is one of the best water saving devices for home and office. When they were first introduced, low-flow toilets did not perform well, and people were quickly turned off. However, great strides have been made in their development, so that they can use 1.6 gallons per flush (as opposed to older toilets, which use up to 7 gallons per flush – you don’t need to a water conservation calculator to see how quickly that adds up. Some of the better low-flow toilets are:

• The Toto UltraMax
• The Kohler Wellworth Pressure Lite
• The American Standard Champion

If you’re not ready to give up your lawn, or if you have a garden, you should definitely look into water saving devices to assist with your irrigation. For the garden, one of the best ways to save water is to use a drip irrigation system, which targets the flow so that each plant gets the exact amount of water it needs but no water is wasted. Drip irrigation systems are considered to be about 90% efficient and improving constantly. When every drop counts, it makes the cost and effort of installing the system pay for itself. Fortunately, it’s neither terribly expensive nor difficult to install a drip irrigation system. If you can’t get the information you need from your local nursery, you can always go online. Try Irrigation Tutorials, which gives you step by step instructions.

It’s one of the biggest water users in the home and you don’t want to compromise on the cleanliness of your clothes, so in order to get all you want from a washing machine, look for those with an Energy Star label. They can use up to half the amount of water a standard washer uses, as well as 40% less energy, so all your utility bills will see the difference.

Australia, the driest country on the planet, is leading the vanguard in water efficiency. Devices that are readily available there are only sparingly available in the States. Consumer pressure should help with making the following devices available: home rainwater tanks, which collect and harvest rainwater, gas-boosted solar hot water systems, and shower timers with pop-up water saving buckets.

Don’t forget to use common sense, like turning off water while brushing teeth or washing dishes. The simplest habits can turn into the best savings.

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• Types of Pollution
• Air Pollution Statistics
• Effects of Water Pollution
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• Water Conservation at Home
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• Eco Friendly Houses
• Summary of Water Conservation Programs in California
• Sigg Water Bottles