Did you know that the average American uses 80-100 gallons of water each day? Multiply that by our national population, and we are using about 345 billion gallons every 24 hours — which is enough to drown Rhode Island under a foot of water!
It’s clear that we need to be more conscientious about our water resources. So whether you’re concerned about the environment, want to save money on your utility bills, or are facing a water shortage in your community, there are many reasons to be careful with the water usage in your home.
Often, we waste water without even realizing it, but fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to do better. If you’re interested in streamlining your water use for any reason, here are 4 simple ways to save water at home.
1. Install Water-Saving Fixtures
Gone are the days when you were stuck with only one or two options for the fixtures in your home. Now the market is flooded with options, including some excellent installations that can help you reduce your daily water usage.
- Flow Restrictors: These devices act as valves that regulate the flow of water, often used with showerheads. When used properly, flow restrictors help reduce your water usage without impacting water pressure.
- Water-Saving Showerheads: In addition to flow regulators, there are also showerheads already designed with water savings in mind. In fact, the EPA even offers a certification known as the Watersense label to help consumers identify showerheads that are more efficient in their water use.
- Low-Flow Toilets: Low-flow toilets use much less water than your typical high-flow toilets. By using gravity or pressure assistance to help power each flush, they can dispose of waste at a fraction of the water usage.
2. Turn Off the Faucet When Brushing Your Teeth or Shaving
Many of our daily hygiene tasks rely on water to get the job done right. For example, you probably use tap water to rinse your toothbrush or clean your razor while getting rid of that five o’clock shadow. In the moment, it may seem easier to just leave the faucet running between razor swipes or as you spit out toothpaste and mouthwash. However, this is probably wasting more water than you realize!
A faucet left running can send 3 to 5 gallons of water down the drain each minute. So even if you only spend 60 seconds brushing your teeth or cleaning up your beard, you may be paying for an extra five gallons of clean water that wasn’t really used. This is bad for both your wallet and the environment.
3. Address Drips and Leaks Immediately – They Add Up!
If you aren’t handy with plumbing, dealing with the “minor inconvenience” of a dripping tap or leaky pipe may seem like more hassle than it’s worth. After all, how much water can you really use with just one drip at a time?
The answer may surprise you. In fact, dripping faucets typically waste anywhere between 2 and 20 gallons per day, which can quickly add up. Say you had a faucet that dripped one drop of water per second. Left unattended for a year, that “little” drip would amount to over 3,000 gallons of wasted water. That’s the equivalent of more than 180 showers! With that amount of water, you could take an extra shower every day for six whole months. No wonder your utility bill is feeling the pain.
So when it comes to drips and leaks, a proactive approach is definitely better in the long run. A little hassle now can save you a lot of money later!
4. Only Run Full Loads of Laundry or Dishes
Are you the type of person who runs the laundry machine or dishwasher on a regular schedule, or do you wait until you have a full load to clean? When it comes to saving water (and money), the latter may be a better strategy.
Laundry is one of the top consumers of water in the home, making up as much as 16% of your total usage. So by getting the most out of each load, you can make a big dent in your water consumption. When possible, wait the extra day or two until you have a full load of clothes to wash. If your washing machine has different settings for different load sizes, make sure you’re putting these to use, as well! That can help your machine run more efficiently and waste less water per load.
Running a full load is also preferable for dishwashers. While modern appliances may use as little as 3 gallons of water per cycle, older models can use up to 14 gallons. By running the dishwasher less frequently, you stand to save a lot in terms of water use.
Make the Most of Your Water with Whole-Home Filtration
At the Science of Water, we understand the importance of clean water — and of saving it. Our cost-effective filtration systems help your appliances and plumbing run more efficiently by removing contaminants and providing clean, pure water to your sinks, faucets, showers, and washing machines. So not only will you enjoy top-quality water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and more, but you can save money on water bills, appliance and plumbing repair, and disposable plastic water bottles.
It’s even easy to get started. The Science of Water offers a free water test so you can see exactly what chemicals, minerals, and other contaminants are coming into your house and impacting your water efficiency. With this information, we can provide expert recommendations to help you decide which whole-house water filtration system will work best for you.
As an authorized dealer of Puronics water filtration systems, we are dedicated to providing clean water, one household at a time. Puronics, Inc has been delivering pure water solutions since 1947, using SilverShield® Protection NASA technology. We even offer products tested and certified for contaminant reduction by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), so you can rest assured you are getting the best water quality on the market.
Ready to enjoy pure water without sacrificing efficiency and price? Contact us to schedule your free water test, and let us prove to you why installing a home water filtration system is absolutely worth it.