Indoor Water Conservation

We use water all over our homes. In addition to the tips below, remember to regularly check for leaks. According to EPA WaterSense, the average household's leaks account for nearly 1 TRILLION gallons of wasted water nationwide and 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

TOILETS:

Toilets are the largest source of water use in most homes, so finding ways to save water here really adds up!

• A low-flow toilet uses about 2.4 fewer gallons per flush than a traditional toilet
• Find toilet leaks: Drop a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and wait about 5 minutes. Check the toilet bowl; if the water is colored, you have a leak. Finding and repairing leaks can save 73,000 gallons of water a year!
• Consider a fill-cycle diverter, which is easy to install and can save up to half a gallon per flush

DISH WASHING:

The good news here: dishwashers use less water than washing by hand!

• Consider an energy efficient dishwasher, they use 10 fewer gallons per cycle than a traditional dishwasher.
• Skip the pre-rinse. Seriously! Modern dishwashers are designed to sense debris and can work even better when you do not pre-rinse.
• Run full loads in the dishwasher for water AND energy savings.

AT THE FAUCET:

• Running water while brushing teeth, shaving and dish washing all adds up; turn off the tap when you don't need the water. Turning off the tap while brushing teeth alone saves 3,000 gallons of water per year!
• Replace your faucet aerator with a WaterSense model - just one low-flow aerator can save 700 gallons of water each year, that's the same as 45 showers worth of water!