Can We Save The World ?

Reduce residential water use

Some 3% of US Energy is used to provide residential water and sewerage services. In recent years water has sometimes become scarce. The less water you use the less energy your water supply company will use.

60% of water used in US residences is used outside our homes.

Click for a larger image
In the US we use 40% of residential water in our homes, toilet flushing uses 30%, clothes washing 25%, showering 20%, faucets 18%, bathing 2%, dishwashers 2% and others 3%.

We need to change our attitude to water to regard it as a precious resource, and to conserve it.

Click for a larger image
In the US most of us use far more water than we need to, we waste water and cause water restrictions. However reducing our water use is quite simple and will dramatically reduce our water costs.

What can I do to reduce water use in my home and conserve water:

Reduce toilet water use, they use about 30% of the water used in homes.

Don’t flush the toilet on every visit, 'if it’s yellow let it mellow' at least until a next visit, 'if it’s brown flush it down’. By flushing on average every second visit an average home can reduce toilet water use by 6,000 gallons per year!
If you have a toilet that uses more than 2 gallons per flush install a water displacement device or a toilet displacement dam, these reduce the amount of water used per flush.
Reduce toilet water use by installing a new low flush toilet, these use around 1 gallon on a half flush or 1.5 on a full flush, older toilets used up to 6 gallons.

Use less water when you bath, have a short shower instead.
Use less water showering:

Have fewer showers, keep your bodies protective oil on your skin.
Have shorter showers and turn the water off when lathering with soap or shampoo, this will also reduce the energy used to heat your water.
Fit a low flow shower head.
Use power showers extremely frugally, a power shower running for 5 minutes can use as much water as a bath!

Consider replacing your old washing machines and dishwashers with newer models. Newer models save both water and energy. Modern washing machines reduce water use by more than half and use less than half the water that is used when washing dishes by hand. When using a dishwasher don’t rinse off dishes first, just scrape off excess food.
Don’t let the faucet run unnecessarily when washing, shaving, washing dishes, and when washing fruit and vegetables. Use a plug in the sink or a bowl rather than washing under the faucet over an open plug hole.
Fix leaks, 6% of residential water is wasted by leaks. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons per year. Leaks are most common in toilet cisterns and faucets. If you have a water meter, you can check for leaks by turning off the water and taking two meter readings an hour apart. If the reading is different, there may be a leak, leaks more often occur in supply pipe work below or adjacent to your premises.
Most of the suggestions under reduce water heating costs reduce water use.
Fill kettles with just enough water for your needs, this will also reduce your fuel bills.
Recycle water used for washing, use it in the yard, recent research shows it does not harm plants.
Install aerators to faucets used for washing, these reduce flow to 2 gallons per minute.
Install a rainwater storage system. Filtered and stored and pumped rainwater can be used throughout your home, with the exception of cold water faucets that provide drinking water, dramatically reducing residential water use. The author has had a rainwater storage system in his home for the past 9 years, it has worked flawlessly, the only maintenance that has been required is to clean the filters.
Install a grey water recycling system, this reclaims washing water for use in the toilet and yard irrigation. Grey-water is wastewater from washbasins, showers, baths and from cooling processes.
Ensure that everyone in your home is aware of the need to be water efficient.

By using the above suggestions you can reduce your residential water use by more than 70% and conserve water.

Can we save the world logo

reduce outside water use | micro irrigation

home page | reduce residential energy use | small appliances that leak electricity