home water conservation tips

The first step in understanding how to conserve water in your home is to know where water is used. Most people use 50 to 70 gallons of water indoors each day & as much as the same amount outdoors, depending on the season. Indoors, three quarters of all the water is used in the bathroom. Outdoors, lawn & garden watering & car washing account for most of the water used.

How to Conserve Water Daily

Because such a huge percentage of the water you use is used in the bathroom, that's where water conservation efforts should focus. You can install a few simple, inexpensive devices in the bathroom that can save a lot of water with no change in your lifestyle or your present habits. Many hardware & plumbing supply stores stock these items. These are:

Toilet dams or rock-filled containers. These devices (one of which you can make yourself) (Vis. 2) reduce the amount of water flowing out of the toilet by up to 25 percent. They do not affect its flushing ability. Never use a brick to accomplish the same effect---particles from it could harm your plumbing. Always be sure that at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.

Low flow, water-saving shower heads. This piece of plumbing (Vis. 3) reduces the amount of water flowing through your shower by up to 50 percent, but increases its velocity so the shower feels the same. This also saves hot water. You may even be able to avoid buying a larger water heater, should the need arise.

• Faucet aerators. These devices restrict the amount of water going through your faucet by up to 50 percent, but add bubbles so the flow of water appears the same. They could be installed on all of your faucets, not just the ones in your bathroom.