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Water Conservation Tips

Conserve Water In the Home

  • Repair All Leaks
  • Toilet leaks, depending on size and nature, can waste up from 200 to 7200 gallons of water per day.
  • An unattended large leak can waste up to a phenomenal 2,500,000 gallon a year!
  • Repair leaky faucets and pipes.

Conserve Water in the Bathroom

  • Install low consumption (1.6 gal/flush) toilets
  • Install low-flow aerators and showerheads.
  • Do not let the faucet flow while brushing teeth or shaving.
  • Take showers instead of baths.
  • Leaking diverter valves (valves the divert water from shower head to tub spout) should be replaced.

Save Water in Kitchen and Laundry

  • Install a low-flow aerator on all faucets.
  • Pre-rinsing dishes before loading in a dishwasher is unnecessary and wasteful.
  • Operate washing machines and dishwashers when they are fully loaded.
  • Use the proper load level or load-size selection on washing machine.
  • When purchasing dishwashers and washing machines, consider the water consumption.

Save Water Outside

  • Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks.
  • Wash the car with water from a bucket.  If a hose must be used, control the flow with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
  • Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day.
  • Avoid watering on windy days.
  • Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems.
  • Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation.
  • Use native plants in landscaping.

HOW TO FIND AND REPAIR LEAKS

In just over one year a leaky toilet waste over 22,000 gallons of water. A leak in a sink of just one drop per second wastes an additional 2,400 gallons per year.

Toilet leaks
Some toilet leaks make a running sound; others are silent.

How do I test to see if my toilet is leaking?
Simply follow the steps below using regular food coloring. Do not use with automatic bowl cleaning devices.

  • Place a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank.
  • DO NOT FLUSH.
  • Wait 15-30 minutes.
  • If dye appears in your toilet bowl, you have a leak.
  • Consult your local hardware store or a plumber.

Pipe Leaks

Leaky pipes in your basement, under your sink, and behind your washing machine or dishwasher can waste great amounts of water. They can also damage your home.

To detect unseen leaks:

  • Check your water meter.
  • Then do not use any water overnight (8 hours), and
  • Check the meter again in the morning before any water is used.
  • If the meter has moved; you may have a leak. Faucet Leaks Leaky faucets waste hundreds of gallons of water monthly. Many can be fixed with an inexpensive washer.

    To replace a washer for valve-stem-and-washer-type faucet:
  • Shut-off water supply to faucet.
  • Remove parts. Lay them down in the order in which they are taken out to simplify reassembly.
  • Replace worn washer with same size and type.
  • Reassemble unit.
  • Turn on water supply.

*Check with a plumbing supply store for simple repair of other faucet types.