Every drop counts. The EPA estimates that the average household uses approximately 260 gallons of water per day—that’s more than $650 every year spent on water and sewer bills! Don’t let water woes dampen your home; follow these four easy ideas from Stephanie Thorton, marketing and outreach lead for EPA WaterSense, to reduce utility bills and water waste:
1. Watch for leaks. Take a meter reading and don’t use water in your home for two hours. If the reading has changed during that time, you may have a leak. “An American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks,” Thorton adds.
2. Don’t water the sidewalk. Thorton notes that as much as 50 percent of water used outside may be lost due to wind, evaporation, and runoff from overwatering. Make sure sprinklers only spray on plants. Super saver tip: consider collecting rain water to water the lawn and other household plants.
3. Install WaterSense fixtures. The average household can save more than $200 per year by installing water-efficient appliances that use up to 20 percent less water than standard models.
4. End wasteful water practices. Scrape dishes with a rubber spatula instead of rinsing and run the dishwasher only for full loads. Also, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth really does matter, and could save up to eight gallons of water.
Another great way to save is to leave a pitcher of water in the fridge. Not only does this mean more cold water on hand and less time spent waiting for the tap to get cold, it will also help keep the inside of your refrigerator cool since water holds its temperature, ultimately saving energy usage.
Four simple ways to conserve water
By Kristy Alpert
Every drop counts. The EPA estimates that the average household uses approximately 260 gallons of water per day—that’s more than $650 every year spent on water and sewer bills! Don’t let water woes dampen your home; follow these four easy ideas from Stephanie Thorton, marketing and outreach lead for EPA WaterSense, to reduce utility bills and water waste:
1. Watch for leaks. Take a meter reading and don’t use water in your home for two hours. If the reading has changed during that time, you may have a leak. “An American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks,” Thorton adds.
2. Don’t water the sidewalk. Thorton notes that as much as 50 percent of water used outside may be lost due to wind, evaporation, and runoff from overwatering. Make sure sprinklers only spray on plants. Super saver tip: consider collecting rain water to water the lawn and other household plants.
3. Install WaterSense fixtures. The average household can save more than $200 per year by installing water-efficient appliances that use up to 20 percent less water than standard models.
4. End wasteful water practices. Scrape dishes with a rubber spatula instead of rinsing and run the dishwasher only for full loads. Also, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth really does matter, and could save up to eight gallons of water.
Another great way to save is to leave a pitcher of water in the fridge. Not only does this mean more cold water on hand and less time spent waiting for the tap to get cold, it will also help keep the inside of your refrigerator cool since water holds its temperature, ultimately saving energy usage.