Water Conservation

Did you know?

Most people use more water each day than they know. The following are some examples of daily water usage:

• Washing Dishes by hand with the tap running can use up to 30 gallons of water.
• Running the tap to get cool water to drink uses up to 7 gallons each minute.
• A full size top loading washing machine uses up to 50 gallons each wash.
• An unrestricted shower head runs at 5 to 10 gallons each minute.
• Leaving your water running while you brush your teeth can use up to 10 gallons of water.
• A faucet that drips once a second wastes almost 9 gallons of water each day. That’s 3000 gallons a year.
• A leaking toilet can waste up to 15 gallons of water a day.
• Using your toilet as a trash can wastes up to 5 gallons each flush.

Ways to save water around the home?

The bathroom:

• Check your toilet for leaks by removing the tank top and adding 10 drops of food coloring to the tank water. If after 15 to 20 minutes the water in the toilet bowl has taken on the shade of coloring used you have a leak.
• You can place a 2 liter filled bottle in the toilet tank. This will reduce the water used with each flush by about ½ gallon.
• Remember to turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
• Purchase a water saving showerhead. These can save 2.5 to 7.5 gallons of water each minute compared to an unrestricted showerhead.
• Add a faucet aerator to the sink faucet. An aerator can save 1 to 5 gallons a minute compared to a faucet with no aerator.

• Fill your dishwasher. You use the same amount of water in a full dish washer as in a half full dishwasher. Why waste the water?
• If your dishwasher has a water saver cycle, use it. You will use 30% less water and save on the energy used to heat the water.
• If you do not have a dishwasher, make sure to use a dishpan or stopper in the sink. Each minute you are not running the water you are saving 3 to 7 gallons.
• If you usually let the faucet run till the water is cool before drinking, keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator.

• Make sure you select the proper water level for each load of laundry.
• When cleaning items in the utility sink make sure to use a dishpan or stopper in the sink.

Sources:
American Water Works Association Water Wiser Water Efficiency Clearinghouse
City of Albuquerque Water Conservation Office
Domestic Water Use - U.S. Geological Survey