American households waste up to one trillion gallons of water each year. Many issues that contribute to this high volume of waste are easy to fix. A simple change in your daily habits or upgrading water fixtures in your home or business can drastically reduce water waste.
Install Low-Flow Fixtures
American household appliances consume a great deal of water daily, and older fixtures generally use more water than newer, low-flow models. Replacing your older toilets, shower heads, and faucets can significantly cut your household consumption and these upgrades are affordable and easy to perform.
Low-flow fixtures use high-pressure water to create a strong water output, similar or equal to older fixtures, but with less water.
- Low-flow faucets reduce water flow from a sink by as much as 30 percent. These new models use 1.5 gallons per minute maximum, versus standard models that use 2.2 gallons per minute.
- Low-flow showerheads release less than two gallons of water per minute, compared to older models that release 2.5 gallons.
- Low-flow toilets consume just 1.6 gallons of water per flush–far less than older models which use up to 7 gallons.
Fix Water Leaks
From leaky faucets to leaking pipes, water leaks throughout your home can cause extensive water waste. A simple worn out washer in an older model faucet that causes a minor drip could cause up to 3,000 gallons of annual water waste.
Check for leaks throughout the home in the following ways:
- To identify toilet leaks, put a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If you see color in the toilet bowl after approximately 10 minutes, there is a leak.
- Evaluate all fittings on plumbing pipes, looking for water on the exterior of the pipe.
- Take a look at your water bill. During colder months when outside usage is at its lowest, the average family of four shouldn’t exceed usage of 12,000 gallons a month – higher water consumption could indicate a leak.
Limit Electricity Use
You may think electricity has nothing to do with water, but the two go hand-in-hand. To generate electricity, a great deal of water is consumed – up to 201,000 million gallons a day! By limiting electrical use at home, you’re contributing to the indirect conservation of water.
Indiana American Water is committed to sustainability and water conservation. Water is essential to your daily life. It allows communities to flourish by supplying the needs of local businesses and organizations. Want to learn more about how you can save money and help ensure water is available for future generations? Visit us online at https://amwater.com/inaw/water-information/wise-water-use.
