The average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home. Roughly 70% of this use occurs indoors. Use the information and tips below to save water around your home. Saving water not only helps the environment but helps you save money as well!
Saving Water Throughout Your Home
In The Kitchen
- Only run the dishwasher with a full load. Running the dishwasher multiple times for smaller loads will cause you to use twice as much water
- Don’t pre-rinse your dishes. If you have a high-quality dishwasher, it should remove food particles and stains without the need for pre-rinsing
- If you wash your dishes by hand, fill one side of the sink with fresh water and use it for rinsing when the dishes are scrubbed clean rather than rinsing each plate, cup, or utensil individually
- Install a water aerator on your kitchen faucet. An aerator can help to reduce water use by as much as one full gallon every minute
- Keep a large pitcher of water in the refrigerator for use whenever you need cold water. This will eliminate the need to run the sink and wait for the water to get cold
In The Bathroom
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or scrubbing your hands or face. Instead, just rinse, turn off the sink, then rinse again when you’re ready
- Take shorter showers whenever possible
- Repair leaky shower faucets and valves
- Check your toilet for silent leaks – This can be done with a simple dye test
- Consider getting a low-flow shower head in your bathroom that can reduce water use every time you shower without having to sacrifice water pressure
Outdoors
Sprinkler Spruce Up
Irrigation system maintenance can help save you a lot of money and water. Hidden things like cracks in pipes can lead to costly leaks, and broken sprinkler heads can waste water and money. Follow these four simple steps to make sure your irrigation system is performing at its highest efficiency:
Inspect: Check your system for broken or clogged sprinkler heads. If you don’t feel confident in this area, hire a pro to make sure things are in order.
Connect: Check the connection points of the sprinkler heads to pipes or hoses. Pooling water indicates a leak in your system. Even the smallest leak can waste thousands of gallons of water monthly
Direct: Ensure sprinklers and directed in the right way. Water should not be spraying onto your driveway house or sidewalks more so than plants and grass.
Select: Use an irrigation controller that can be scheduled for different weather patterns and seasons, to ensure you are not overwatering.
Check out EPA WaterSense for more information about sprucing up your sprinkler system, as well as water-conserving products for your home
Water-Efficient Landscaping
Using native plants and other climate-appropriate landscape materials can reduce irrigation water use by more than 50%. Native plants require less time and maintenance, lowering the costs of watering and upkeep. Check out EPA Landscaping Tips for more information.
Rain Barrels
Recycle stormwater into free, non-potable water that can be used to maintain gardens and lawns. It is easy to make your own rain barrel or purchase one locally.