Saving Water Indoors
1. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as cleaning or watering a plant or garden.
2. Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not show exactly the same readings, there is a leak.
3. epair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year, which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities or strain your septic system.
4. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done since food coloring may stain tank.)
5. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in a trash container rather than in the toilet.
6 .Install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a bag or bottle to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flushing. Be sure installation does not interfere with operating parts. When purchasing new or replacement toilets, consider low-volume units which use less than half the water of older models. In many areas, low-volume units are required by law.
7. Take shorter showers. Replace your shower head with an ultra low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs.
8. Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. Put the plug or stopper in the tub before turning on water. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later.
9. Don't let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot then wash or shave after filling the basin.
10. Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
11. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.
12. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
13. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
14. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.
15.Kitchen sink disposals require a lot of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste instead of using a garbage disposal. Garbage disposal waste also can add 50 percent to the volume of solids in a septic tank, which can lead to septic system malfunctions and maintenance problems.
16. Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce heating costs for your household.
17. Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
18. Never install a water-to-air heat pump or air-conditioning system. Newer air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water.
19. Install water-softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.
20. Check your pump. If you have a well at your home, listen to see if the pump kicks on and off while the water is not in use. If it does, you have a leak.
21. When adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning water flow up, try turning it down. If the water is too hot or cold, turn the offender down rather than increasing water flow to balance the temperature.
22. If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
Saving Water Outdoors
1. Don't over water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks. Plant it smart—Xeriscape. Xeriscape landscaping, which is a great way to design, install and maintain both your plantings and irrigation system, will save you time, money and water.
2. Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces loss from evaporation.
3. Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs…not the paved areas.
4. Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.
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