Tips for Consumers to Save Water and Money
- Check all faucets, pipes and toilets periodically for leaks.
- Install water-saving shower heads, faucets and faucet aerators.
- Install a 1.6 gallon low-flow toilet.
- Replace or adjust sticking toilet handles.
- Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers.
- Use short cycle on dish washers.
- Take shorter showers.
- Wash full loads of laundry.
- Water lawn thorougly but only when needed.
- Plant drought resistant trees and plants.
- Recycle pool water.
- Raise lawn mower blade to highest level when cutting grass.
| Average Water Requirements | |
|---|---|
| To flush a toilet | 1.6 gallons (per flush) |
| Each shower/bath | 2.5 gallons (per minute) |
| Dishwasher | 7 gallons (per load) |
| Washing Machine | 43 gallons (per load) |
| Sprinkler 4"/1,000 ft | 160 gallons |
| Residential use per person per day | 69 gallons |
Do Not Wait To Fix Leaks
- Hidden leaks caused by a corroded flush valve can waste over 73,000 gallons of water per year.
- If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 1,660 gallons of water per year.
- Install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a bag or bottle to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush. Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts. When purchasing new or replacement toilets, consider low-volume units, which use less than half the water of older models.
Checking For Leaks
The water meter can be used to check for visible or unnoticeable leaks.
- Check your home for hidden water leaks by turning off all faucets.
- Read the dial on the water meter and record reading.
- Recheck your meter after a 15-20 minute period.
- If the meter dial has changed and does not read exactly the same, a leak is occurring within the plumbing system.
To determine if your toilet is leaking take these simple steps.
- Check for toilet tank leaks by removing the tank lid after the toilet has stopped filling.
- Check for visible leak or to hear water running.
- Add a few drops of food coloring or dye capsule/tablet into to the water in the toilet tank.
- Do not flush the toilet.
- If the color appears in the toilet bowl within 10-15 minutes, you may have a leak.
- (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
- Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts.
- Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available at the local hardware store and easily installed.
Try to do one thing each day that will result in saving water. Every drop counts. You can make a difference.