Water: Top 5 Ways to Save

Jan 12, 2010 | Water Conservation

California's water system is at the breaking point. Water appears cheap and plentiful, but in fact California water supplies are so overtaxed a new state policy requires the state cut its use by 20%. You can expect your water bills to go up in the coming years, as water and wastewater treatment plants upgrade to meet new federal water-quality standards.

Water and energy are also deeply connected. The California Public Utilities Commission estimates that 8% of the state's energy used to move water and 11% of our energy is used to heat water.

And a vast amount of water is used in the production of electricity. Sandia National Laboratories reports that nearly 40% of all freshwater use in the U.S. is for electricity generating plants. (Learn more about the energy-water connection.)

So, while water appears cheap, it has hidden energy and environmental costs. Fortunately, saving water is usually easy and you won't sacrifice comfort.

1. Get the picture.

Take a look at how the typical home uses water. The top uses are also the places with the biggest savings opportunities: outdoor watering, bathing, toilets, and clothes washing.

This chart from the EPA shows average daily water use in the average U.S. home.

2. Get outdoor water smarts.

Reduce your outdoor water use by watering only what your plants need. Enormous amounts of water are wasted in landscapes by over-watering. The second area of waste is leaky irrigation systems.

• Set your timer. And if you don't have a timer, get one. Here is a handy guide to watering times for plants typically found in the Bay Area. Often 30% of daily outdoor water use is wasted from overwatering. Often it is possible to reduce both the minutes of watering and shift away from a daily watering schedule. You'll need a timer to to do the best job.
• Check for leaks and waste. Do you see water pooling in one area when the water system is on? Do you have broken sprinkler heads? Are you watering the sidewalk instead of your plants? These small leaks can really add up to gallons every day. You'll notice a difference on your water bill after fixing these items. • Reduce your lawn. Grass takes more water per square foot than almost any other planting. In fact, you can get a rebate for taking out your lawn in many areas. See the list below.
• Use a drip-irrigation system and avoid overhead sprayers. Sprayers lead to a lot of evaporation, so less water reaches your plants. A drip system applies the water directly to the plant at its base.
• Start composting. Adding compost to the soil helps retain moisture, and can make a significant dent in your outdoor water use. Composting also returns nutrients to the soil, so your garden will look better. And, it saves on landfill space.
• Get a water audit. Many Bay area water districts offer a free water audit. See the list below. 3. Lower your flow.

Bathing is the largest indoor water use, and saving water in this area is easy.

• Install low-flow showerheads. Installing an ultra-low-flow shower head can reduce a 10-minute shower from 60 gallons to just 15. The new models use a pressurized showerhead, and deliver a comfortable stream of water. You won't notice the difference. Call WattzOn for recommended models. • Take shorter showers. The average American shower is 7.2 minutes. Have you timed yours? • Showers not baths. Save about 20 gallons each time you take a shower instead of a bath. 4. Stop flushing water down the drain.

If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has not been replaced yet, you're flushing with 3.5 gallons each time, instead of the 1.3 gallons of a high-efficiency toilet (HET). Check the date stamped on the underside of the tank lid to see the age of your toilet.

• Upgrade your toilet. Note many communities offer rebates to switch your toilet for an HET. (See Rebates.) To find HETs, look for the WaterSense rating label.
• Improve your water-hog toilet. No plans to upgrade? Place one or two one-quart bottles filled with water in the tank of your older model. This can save as much as 1,000 gallons of water per person per year. (Don't insert a brick, as some do, as these slowly decompose and clog the toilet.)
• Flush less, and be a water miser. Don't flush unless it's necessary. If you toss a tissue into the toilet, there's really no need to waste a couple gallons of water flushing it away. The average American flushes 5 times a day. This is a great way to be less than average! 5. Launder wisely.

Clothes washing is the last big area of water use in the home. An older washing machine can use 45 to 60 gallons per load. New models use less than 10.

• Upgrade your washer. When buying a washing machine, choose an EPA ENERGY STAR-rated washer that also has a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5. Not all ENERGY STAR products meet this standard. But you'll enjoy the extra water and energy savings for years to come. You can get a combined water and energy rebate, too. See the list below. • Fill'er up! Save water by washing with full loads. You can also save by using the load-sizing settings on your washing machine, but these are second best. Full loads save more water. Take action!

Install low-flow showheads

Reduce shower time

Install high efficiency toilets

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