Water Usage
Even though water is the most abundant substance on earth, only 1% is available for human consumption. Most of the water on earth is either saltwater or freshwater that is frozen in the polar ice caps and not usable by humans. Population growth, agriculture, and manufacturing all demand increasing amounts of freshwater.
Get to Know Your Water Bill
Know how much you are using: A good way to help you reduce your use of water is to know how much you are consuming. Your water bill will tell you what you have used in cf's (cubic feet) or ccf's (100's of cubic feet). To convert cf's to gallons multiply the number of cf's by 7.5. To convert ccf's to gallons multiply by 748.
Check your Bathroom
On average household bathrooms account for about 65% of the water used in a home. Take the following steps to ensure you're conserving water in your bathroom:
- Turn off the water while you brush your teeth: You can save 100 gallons per person each month by doing this.
- Make sure there are no leaks or drips: A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons a day or more, and leaking toilets can waste up to 500 gallons a day!
Go with the Low Flow: Shower Smart
Install a low flow shower. Some showerheads use 5-7 gallons per minute (gpm). That adds up to 50-70 gallons when you are in the shower for more than 10 minutes! It takes approximately 25-50 gallons of water for a bath and 12.5 gallons of water for a 5 minute shower (using a 2.5 gpm low-flow showerhead).
Take a 5 minute shower or take a 10 minute one every other day. You can save 3 times the water, the sewer, and the gas or electricity it takes to heat the water.
Save Water Every Time You Flush
If you can, the best option is to buy a 1.6 gallons per flush toilet ($100) or for only 20-60 cents you can buy a toilet "displacement" bag and save 90 or more gallons a month.
Fill up the Dishwasher
Make sure the dishwasher is full when you run it and/or use a small trickle to wash and rinse dishes. Average dishwashers use approximately 12 gallons of water every time you use them.
Wash Your Clothes on the Right Setting
For just a few items, set your washer to light load. A typical clothes washer uses about 20-50 gallons of water per load and the permanent press cycle uses an additional 15 gallons of water.
Don't Water the Pavement
Don't waste water on paved areas. Water in the morning for best results. Water according to the soil and plant needs. Clay soils absorb water slowly and certain plants need little to no watering.
