How to save water around the house
- Fix leaks – this can save up to 10 gallons of water a day from one faucet. Fixing a leaky toilet can save about 200 gallons of water daily.
- Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. This can save both hot and cold water (aerators can save up to 40%).
- Take showers instead of baths. A bath typically requires 70 gallons of water, while a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons.
- When you need to run the washing machine or dishwasher, make sure the machines are full (and when you need to replace them, go for a high efficiency washer).
- When you need to water your lawn or garden, do not water between 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. Some estimates say that more than 50 percent of landscape water is wasted through evaporation or runoff caused by over-watering. Better yet, xeriscape (which refers to gardening with native and drought resistant plants).
- If you pour yourself a glass of water and don’t finish it, instead of pouring it down the drain, find another use for it such as watering a plant.
- Avoid flushing the toilet when you don’t have to – throw tissues, insects, and dental floss away in the trash instead of the toilet.
- When you wash dishes by hand, fill one sink/basin with soapy water followed by a quick rinse under a mild drip from the faucet.
- Don’t wait for the water from the faucet get warm before you wash your hands. It might be chilly but it'll still get the job done.
- Instead of waiting for the tap to run cold when you want a glass of water, store a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator.
- Don’t use running water to thaw frozen food. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use your microwave’s defrost setting.
- Don’t pre-wash dishes before you put them into the dishwasher. Scrape off residual food but then load them directly into the washer.
- Save and reuse any cooking water (boiling/steaming) by adding to recipes that call for water (pasta sauce, soups, etc), or let cool off and use to water fertilizer-loving house- and patio-plants.
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Past Blog Entries
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