Water conservation starts at home, where our daily use of faucets, showerheads, dishwashers and toilets all add up to some unsightly numbers. Fortunately, you can dramatically reduce your water usage through helpful tips you can use throughout your home.
- Replace pre-1992 toilets with High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) to save up to 22,000 gallons of water annually
- Cut a minute off your shower every day to save more than 900 gallons of water annually.
- Swap out your 2.5 gpm showerhead with a 1.75 water-conserving model, you can save more than 7,500 gallons of water annually. (Based on an average of seven-minute for a family of four.)
- Fix leaky faucets and install low-flow aerators on kitchen and bath faucets to effortlessly save hundreds of gallons of water each month.
- Use the appropriate water level and load size on the washing machine when doing laundry. Consider purchasing a front-load washing machine.
- Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.
- Water your garden during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning, and avoid watering on windy days.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving to keep excess water from going down the drain.
- Landscape with native or low-water plants to significantly reduce water usage outside the home.
- Use leftover water for houseplants, instead of pouring out a half-empty glass of drinking water.
- Make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded to maximize the dishes cleaned in a cycle.