Saving water and saving money around the house is a snap if you follow these three simple tips. You'll feel great knowing that you are doing your part to help protect the environment, and have a little more money in your pocket for the fun things in life, too.
Water. It meets the most basic of needs, necessary for survival by animals (including humans) and plants alike.
And we use a lot of it. Some experts estimate that the average U.S. residents uses more about 70 gallons of water per person, 280 gallons per day per family of four. At that rate, a typical neighborhood is using an Olympic sized swimming pool of water everyday, just to brush their teeth, shower, cook, and flush the toilet! When you imagine how many neighborhoods there are in your city, each drawing that amount of water, it's easy to visualize the strain this puts on your local water supply.
Here are a few tips for how you can do your part to a little less water around your house and leave it a little more of it in your local lake or river for the benefit of nature and wildlife.
Tip #1: Check for Leaks
The worst way to use more water than you need to is to waste it. When your pipes leak, when your sink drips, and when you toilet runs, that's water and money going down the drain with literally nothing to show for it.
Here's a quick and easy way to see if you have any leaky plumbing in your home. You can involve the kids. They'll have fun playing «leak detective.»
First, find your water meter. It's probably on the corner of the house closest to the street. At the start of the test, check the meter and write down the number of gallons you have used. Then, go 30 minutes without using any water. Don't flush the toilet. Don't brush your teeth. Don't take a shower. Don't wash your hands. If this second step is hard, think of it as a reminder how important water is.
After 30 minutes has passed, return to the meter and read the numbers again. Where are the numbers now? If they haven't changed, no leaks. If they have changed, now it's time to play «leak detective» -- where are the leaks? Start by going around the house and turning off the water to all the toilets. Then wait another 30 minutes. If the numbers don't budget this time, then you have you found your culprit – a leaky toilet.
If the water numbers still go up after you shut off water to the toilets, then it's probably time to call a plumber.
Tip #2: Install a new showerhead
Once you've found and fixed those pesky leaks, you can turn your attention to the fixtures that just use more water than they need to to get the job done. You've probably been thinking about remodeling that bathroom or kitchen anyway, haven't you?
When you arrive at Home Expo Mart, look for EPA's new WaterSense label on the showerheads and faucets. Buy these with confidence that they will provide you with a comfortable, luxurious shower – without squandering life's most precious resource. The little savings each day add up to something important. By switching to an EPA Watersense showerhead, a household with children can save an average of 2300 gallons of water per year.
Tip #3: Install a new toilet
Forget what you think you know about water efficient toilets. Toilets that carry the EPA Watersense label work great AND use less water than the older models. In fact, by replacing an older toilet with a new WaterSense toilet, your family can shave almost 5% off your total water use (and bill) per year.
By following these three simple steps, you can save money and save water. It's a great feeling!
Clean Water: An Overdue Investment
What do you call $6 billion that the U.S. government has invested in drinking water and wastewater treatment systems in 2010? A good start. It’s a good start towards ending the recession and a down payment on our obligation to provide enough clean water for future generations of American families.
Protect the People, Replace the Pipes
The massive water system failure in Massachusetts reveals a long hidden problem: the public is increasingly at risk because America's water pipes and treatment plants are worn out and falling apart. What are the consequences of inaction -- and what can be done to remedy the situation?
Protect the Environment, Fix the Pipes
Have you ever driven past a sign for a «Water Pollution Control Plant» and wondered what goes on there? A better question might be – who's paying to keep that plant going and how far behind are they on their bills? America's sewage treatment system is falling apart and the longer we wait to fix it, the more expensive the final bill will be.
