Conserve Water in 5 Easy Steps

Save water, money and energy now! With so many ways to save water, consider the top five things you can do to reduce your water consumption. First, wash only laundry and dishes only when you have a full load. Second, do not leave the water running when you brush your teeth or shave. Third, shorten your showers to five minutes or less. This action alone will save hundreds of gallons of water. Fourth, fix your faucet and toilet leaks. And finally, install a low-flow shower head to reduce the flow of water. <br /> <br /> Update Your Toilet<br /> <br /> Save water by replacing your old toilet with a more water efficient model. Did you know a toilet accounts for about one-fourth of the water used at home? If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is likely you are using 3.5 to 7 gallons of water each time you flush. Newer models use only 1.6 gallons per flush, saving 1.9 to 5.4 gallons of water each time you flush. The savings can really add up! <br /> <br /> Also, check for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color leaks into the toilet bowl, you have a leak and need to repair it. It is often as simple as replacing the flapper in the tank. Don't use your toilet for a trash can. Each flush uses water unnecessarily and costs you money. <br /> <br /> Conserve Water in the Kitchen<br /> <br /> How can you save water in the home? Think of all the ways we use water in our kitchen. If you use a dishwasher to wash dishes, wash only full loads and don't rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Simply scrape the dishes with a rubber spatula. If you wash by hand, fill one sink with soapy water and use less detergent to minimize rinsing. Dishes can be rinsed in a dish pan of water or using a spray nozzle for a quick rinse with a small amount of water. Fill one side of the sink or a pan with water to wash produce. Plan ahead and defrost food in the refrigerator, not under running water. Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running water each time you want something to drink. When you do run water, collect it from the faucet as you are waiting for it to heat up and then use it to water houseplants. Stop using your garbage disposal and start composting. You can get more information on how to compost and reduce water consumption from your local county extension office. <br /> <br /> Wash Only Full Loads of Laundry <br /> <br /> Your washing machine is the second largest water user in your home. If you want to reduce your water consumption, it may be time for you to replace your old washing machine with a new Energy Star rated model. These new machines have a water factor at or lower than 9.5 and use 35 to 50 percent less water, and 50 percent less energy per load. You are saving money on both your water and energy bills. Also, when you do laundry, wash only full loads or adjust the water level to the size of the load. You can wash most clothing in cold water. This saves energy and money. <br /> <br /> Fix leaky Faucets<br /> <br /> Stop those household water leaks and save hundreds of gallons each month. Many silent leaks allow water and your money to go down the drain. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallon a year! This adds to the cost of water and sewer utilities and is a strain on your septic system. It is easy to replace the washers in your faucets. You can also choose to replace the entire faucet with a more efficient one. <br /> <br /> Shorten Your Shower<br /> <br /> What feels better than a long hot shower at the end of the day? But do you realize how much water you use? You can save 200 to 300 gallons of water per month simply by taking shortening your shower to 5 minutes. Go one step further and install a water-saving shower head and you will save up to 500 to 800 gallons per month. If you prefer a bath, fill the tub only one-third full. A full bath tub uses 50 gallons of water. While filling the tub, put the stopper in before turning on the water. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later.<br /> <br /> Conserve water, every drop counts!<br /> <br /> <I>Debbie Wilburn is County Agent/Family and Consumer Science Agent with the Hall (770)535-8290 and the Forsyth (770)887-2418 County Extension Service.</I>

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