Water Conservation in the Home – Small Changes Equal Big Water Savings

With all the attention being given to the environment and “green” initiatives, most of us have started exploring environmentally friendly alternatives in our own lives.  When it comes to water, we all need to be thinking about how we use water in our daily lives and ways we can conserve it.

Water is a precious resource. With rising global temperatures and the rapid rate in which the polar ice caps are melting, people are rethinking our global water supply.  Further, the earth has a relatively small supply of fresh water. Less than 1 per cent of all the water on earth is fresh water. As the world’s population increases, so does our consumption of fresh water. Given the increasing strain on the planet’s fresh water supply, it is important that we all pay attention to how we use water and the ways we can use less.

There’s a lot we can all do beginning at home.  The five tips below are a great starting point.

1. Fix Leaks

First, a tremendous amount of water is wasted in the home through leaks. It’s important to check indoor water using appliances and devices for leaks. Many silent leaks allow water and your money to go down the drain. Studies have shown homes can waste more than 10 per cent of their water supply due to leaking, which costs both you and the environment. So check around your house and fix any leaks. Replace old or leaky water faucets with newer faucets such as those with a WaterSense label.  WaterSense, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s voluntary public-private partnership programme seeks to protect the future of our water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient programmes, policies and practices.

2. Replace Toilets

Second, replace any old toilets in your home.  Many people don’t realise that the toilet is the largest water user inside the home.  If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is very likely that you do not have a water efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. You can check the date stamp inside the toilet by lifting the lid and looking at the back of the toilet at the manufacturer’s imprint of the make, model and date of manufacture.  One especially environmentally friendly option when it comes to toilets is to consider a dual flush toilet which results in considerable water savings without sacrificing performance. For example, the new Kohler Persuade™ toilet allows users the option of selecting two water levels each time the toilet is flushed – either 1.6 gallons or half that amount – 0.8 gallons.  The latter flush option, if used routinely to remove light or liquid waste, can save a household of four people between 2,000 and 5,000 gallons of water per year over standard models.

3. Buy Energy Star™ Washing Machines

Third, replace your old washing machine (the second largest water user in your home) with an Energy Star™ appliance. Energy Star™ rated washers that also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5 use 35 to 50 per cent less water and 50 per cent less energy per load. This saves you money on both your water and energy bills. Water Factor is the water performance metric that allows the comparison of clothes washer water consumption independent of clothes washer capacity. Manufacturers must submit their water consumption factors with their Energy Star™ qualified clothes washers.

4. Replace Showerheads

Fourth, consider the showerheads in your home.  The average 8-minute shower with a 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) showerhead will use 20 gallons of water.  But by installing a 1.75 gpm showerhead in your bathroom, you can bring that down to 14 gallons for an 8-minute shower, a savings of 6 gallons per shower. Kohler, a leader in water-conserving plumbing products, offers both their Forté® and Purist® designs in 1.75 gpm options.

5. Water Plants Carefully

Finally, don’t forget the garden! Water only what your plants need. Most water is wasted in your garden by watering when your plants do not need the water.  Speak to a representative at your local nursery or greenhouse about how often and how much (quantity per watering) you should water your garden plants.  The amount may fluctuate depending on such factors as the species of plant, time of year and expected monthly rainfall.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be helping to conserve the planet’s precious water resources for generations to come.