Efficiency
Fix That Leak!
Leaky faucets that drip at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. If you are unsure whether you have a leak, read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak. If you have a well at home, check your pump periodically. If the pump turns on and off while the water is not in use, you have a leak.
Savings: 8 - 200 gallons per day
Just Add Air
You can double the efficiency of a kitchen faucet made before 1994 by installing a low-flow aerator. This quick, cost-efficient project, along with a change in habits, can save hundreds of gallons a year.
Savings: 100s of gallons a year
Bathing for Dollars
A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons. If you take a bath, stopper the drain immediately and adjust the temperature as you fill the tub.
Savings: 45 – 60 gallons per shower (per person)
Shower Shortage
A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water. Inexpensive water-saving low-flow shower heads or restrictors are easy for the homeowner to install. "Low-flow" means it uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute.
Savings: 10 – 30 gallons per shower (per person)
Brushing
The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save up to 8 gallons of water per day, which equals 240 gallons a month!
Savings: 8 gallons per day (per person)
Shaving Savings
The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. Rinse your razor in the sink filled with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.
Savings: 5 gallons per shave (per person)
