Friday, January 21, 2011

How to Conserve Water at Home

Not only will reducing your water usage at home shrink your utility bills, conservation of water helps to prevent environmental pollution in lakes, rivers, and other nearby bodies of water. Conserving water will prolong the life of septic systems by not over-saturating the soil.

Four Easy Ways to Conserve Water

Water Drops 0281. Check your toilet for leaks
Put a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank water and do not flush the toilet. If the color appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, this means you have a leak that needs to be fixed. Almost all replacement parts are cheap and simple to install.

2. Don’t leave the hose running while washing your car
Instead, use a bucket of soapy water and use the hose only for rinsing. The average DIY car wash can use up to 150 gallons of water if the hose is running!

3. Take shorter showers
Pay attention to how long your showers are, as just a four minute long shower can use up to 40 gallons of water. Shorter showers make a big difference in water usage.

4. Use your dishwasher and washing machine for full loads only
For water conservation optimization, only use these appliances with full loads of dishes and clothes. Many manufacturers of dishwashers recommend against pre-rinsing, saving a lot of water. With clothes washers, try to avoid using the permanent press setting, as it adds 5 gallons of water. Consider Energy Star appliances, which use less water and may qualify you for a federal tax credit.
Creative Commons License photo credit: flutterfly2002

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