Unless you live in the permanently arid southwest, summer generally means more water use and higher water and sewer bills. Even if you draw water from a well, higher water usage also means higher electricity bills and more wear and tear on the pump. But for many, this summer, the concern isn’t just about higher bills. With some parts of the country suffering prolonged periods of drought and drought, many communities have implemented restrictions on water use and water conservation has become a necessity during the summer. The good news is that a few small changes to your daily routine and a couple of quick fixes around the house can save you water and money – this summer and all year long!
At home
- Turn off that tap. While brushing your teeth, that is, and saving about 2 gallons per minute. Do it every time you brush and save an additional 240 gallons per month. Turn off the tap while you shave and save even more.
- Use the shower; skip the tub. You would think it would be the other way around, right? But, a five-minute shower typically uses only 10 to 25 gallons of water, while a full tub uses about 70 gallons. To keep shower time to a minimum, do not turn on the shower while shaving. If you like leisurely baths, stop the drain immediately and adjust the temperature as it fills up.
- Wash a full load of laundry. With an average washing machine using about 41 gallons per load, the more loads you do and the more water you use. To reduce water use, wait until you have a full charge.
- Fix that leaky toilet. You know the sound: the sudden hiss of water when the tank fills up again, but you didn’t dump it. Or, you may notice a regular wet stain on the floor under the tank. A leaking toilet can waste approximately 200 gallons of water a day!
- Fix leaky faucets and shower heads. A small drip may not sound like much, but a faucet that drips at the rate of 1 drop per second wastes about 2,700 gallons a year.
In the yard
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a typical single-family home uses about 30 percent of its water outdoors, on lawns, lawns, and gardens. Up to 50 percent of that water is wasted through evaporation or runoff. To avoid this type of waste and reduce your water bill, use the following tips.
- Are the outside faucets leaking? Those little drips can be expensive, too.
- Water early or late in the day, while the sun is low and the air is cooler, so less water is wasted through evaporation (note that your community may have irrigation restrictions in place, and observe those).
- If you use water by hand, aim for the base of the plant, where the roots are; it is not necessary to water the entire plant.
- Place sprinklers (preferably drop and not fog type) so that they water only your vegetation and not your driveway, sidewalk or street.
- Schedule the use of your sprinkler so you don’t overwater (overwatering can be just as damaging to your garden as not watering enough). Simple timers are available for under $ 15 that plug directly into your faucet.
What else can you do
These steps take a little more effort and / or money, but pay off on time and offer long-term savings through consistently lower water bills.
- Consider a new toilet. Toilets manufactured before 1992 use between 3.5 and 7 gallons per flush. Newer models use, on average, less than 2 gallons per flush. High-efficiency toilets use approximately 1.3 gallons per flush, resulting in a 10-year cost savings of approximately $ 1,000 for a family of four, without compromising performance. But, if you are concerned about the “flush factor” (will it all go down?), Consider a double flush toilet that uses less water for liquid waste removal and more water for solid waste removal.
- Consider an automatic irrigation system. If you spend a lot of time watering by hand or moving your sprinkler from one location to another, an automatic sprinkler system is an excellent investment. Of course, a system that waters even if it’s raining won’t save you much, but programmable and self-adjusting PC systems are now available that offer an 8-60 percent drop in water usage (depending on how arid your climate is. particular.) and can pay for themselves in as little as 8 months to a couple of years (again, depending on the weather).
- Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation. If an irrigation system is out of the question for your entire garden, consider using a soaker hose or drip irrigation around your garden and landscaping. A soaker hose gently emits water along its entire length directly to the base of the plant and little is lost to runoff or evaporation (you can even do your own soak with a piece of old garden hose). Drip irrigation systems accomplish the same thing, with drip holes called emitters spaced at intervals along the hose. Drip systems will cost a bit more. With either of these methods, you will find that you will have to water less often and use less water when you do. Plug in a simple hose timer and you can save even more.
Sources: US EPA, Popular mechanics, Natural remodeling (2006, Lark Books).