4 Simple Ways to Save Water this Summer
July 31, 2015
According to the L.A. Times, most Americans use more water than they think they do. It may surprise you to learn that the average American uses an estimated 98 gallons of water EACH day.
We’ve compiled a list of four simple ways you can help save water. Use these tips to conserve water this summer and take a little pressure off of your drains as well.
Do you have any other ways to save water to add to this list? Let us know in the comments.
1. Unless you are using it, turn the faucet off. This seems obvious, but how many of us still leave the water running while we shave or brush our teeth? According to treehugger.com, the average faucet uses two gallons of water per minute. If you brush for two minutes, you could save up to eight gallons of water per day!
2. Bring a bucket to the shower with you. We don’t mean you should attempt to shower with a bucket, but the water that is wasted while you are waiting for the shower to get hot is good, usable water. You may be surprised to find you can water all of your houseplants with water that would have otherwise had just gone done the drain.
3. Fix the leaky faucets in your home as soon as possible. A faucet leaking at one drop per minute can waste up to 3000 gallons of water a year, nearly double the amount of water some in developing countries use during the same period. Call your local plumber if you need help.
4. Use your dishwasher instead of hand washing the dishes. The dishwasher can use less water and energy than hand washing the dishes if you follow a few dishwashing guidelines. Load your dishwasher properly following the manufacturer’s instructions and skip pre-rinsing to save the most water.
5. We’ve saved the biggest potential water waster for last- the toilet. The toilet is the largest consumer of water in your home using approximately 27% of your home’s water usage. That said, the EPA notes that a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water.
For more tips on saving water at home, please visit our website or blog. If you live in our New Jersey service area and would like plumbing help or drain-clearing services, please give A.J. Perri a call.