According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each American uses 88 gallons of water a day at home. This stat is no surprise once you think about how we use water for many of our daily routines. We wash our hands, take showers, water our plants, and clean our homes, all with water.
Try to think about how much of that average 88 gallons you actually use. How much of it goes down the drain, ends up on the floor or counters, or gets soaked up into a towel? Even worse to think about, how much is being wasted with unknown leaks in your pipes or inefficient appliances?
Everyone can do their part to start conserving water. Not only can you reduce your energy bill, but you can also help support green plumbing initiatives.
Only run your dishwasher and washing machine with a full load
Many older washing machines and dishwashers are not designed to run efficiently. This means that they use a large amount of water no matter how many clothes or dishes you put in them.
Some of these machines allow you to set a load size, but even then you could be wasting gallons of water per cycle.
That’s why we recommend using the dishwasher or washing machine only when you have a full load of items. This ensures that you are not wasting any of the excess water used in these machines. According to the EPA, running the dishwasher only when it’s full can save the average American family 320 gallons of water annually.
Turn off your faucets
It’s common for most families to leave the sink faucet running during their daily routines. When brushing your teeth, shaving your face, or hand washing your dishes, the faucet is usually kept on. For many this is a part of their routine, but it’s also incredibly wasteful.
You can waste 10 gallons of water leaving the faucet on while washing your dishes, 8 gallons while brushing your teeth, and 10 gallons while shaving.
The next time you shave or wash your dishes, try to fill up the sink so you can reuse the water. And when brushing your teeth, only run the water when you need to, keeping your faucet off most of the time.
Take shorter showers
One of the simplest habits you can break is taking shorter showers. Along with turning off your faucet during your morning routine, shorter showers can save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
If you use your shower time efficiently, you can limit your water and energy usage, while giving yourself slightly more time in the day. If you want to conserve your shower water further, you can even turn off the shower when applying soap or body wash.
Keep your toilet efficient
Toilets make up 18% of our daily household water usage. In fact, having a leaky toilet can consume 40% of your total water usage in your home. Toilets already use so much water and energy, it’s easy for a leak to only waste more resources.
By installing a new toilet flapper and valve, you can greatly reduce your water and energy usage. Plus, these new parts can keep your toilet running efficiently, reducing your time in the bathroom in general.
Invest in new machines
If your washing machine or dishwasher are over ten years old, you’re probably missing out on many features designed to conserve water. Most machines made today include technology to help reduce water consumption and energy usage
From limiting the amount of power used, to automatically detecting how much water should be used, newer equipment can help you save gallons of water throughout the year. Plus, they will run more efficiently in general, requiring less cycles overall.
Look out for leaks
According to the EPA, the average family wastes up to 180 gallons of water per week from household leaks.
It can be difficult to notice a leak before it’s too late. Pipe leaks can be dangerous, as they can damage your home’s infrastructure. Leaks can also waste gallons of water just from normal use. That’s why it’s important to regularly check for leaks whenever possible.
Try this method: check your water meter during a period of time when you are not using any water. Write down the meter reading and check it 10 hours later. If the meter reading has moved, there is probably an undetected water leak.
Collect excess water
When using a lot of water, either in the shower or when washing fruits and vegetables, there’s plenty of water that goes straight down the drain. Why not reuse some of the water?
When taking a shower or washing fruits and vegetables, be sure to keep a container with you to collect excess water. You can then use this water to clean up around your home, water your plants, and so much more. It’s all about efficiently using the water you have!
Collect rainwater
Virginia sees its fair share of rainfall throughout the year. While it’s nice to use it for keeping your lawn and garden hydrated, there’s still more you can do with rainwater.
For instance, why not collect it in a large container? That way you can use it instead of the water from your faucet. The rain water can be used to water your plants and lawn during dry spells. It can also be used in an irrigation system for your home garden.
Don’t overwater your lawn
Many homes in Richmond use either manual or automatic methods to water their gardens and lawns. Either they hand water them with a watering can and hoses, or use an automatic sprinkler system. Yet, it’s always possible to overwater your plants.
Using too much water in your lawn or garden is not only a waste, but it can also hurt your plants growth potential. Overwatering your garden or lawn can result in fungal growth, promote shallow roots, and make your plants more susceptible to drought.
That’s why it’s important to Invest in a spring-loaded timer that attaches directly to your outside faucet. That way, you make sure you don’t use too much water if you forget to turn off your faucet.
Call a plumber
While there are many steps you can take on your own to conserve water, they are more technical solutions available for your home. Yet, it can be difficult to use these options if you’re unfamiliar with home plumbing, or if you simply don’t have the time.
If you want an expert’s opinion either on water conservation or to check out your home’s plumbing system, you need a plumber you can trust.
Call Mike Wilson Plumbing for all your water conservation and plumbing needs. Our skilled and certified technicians are knowledgeable in pipe systems and plumbing fixes. We know how to make your faucets, water heater, and pipes as energy efficient as possible.
Sources:
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts
https://www.home-water-works.org/water-conservation-tips/home
https://drinktap.org/Water-Info/Water-Conservation/Water-Use-Statistics
http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/what-you-can-do/ten-sustainable-actions/take-shorter-showers