Water Conservation Quick Facts For the Home
- Did you know the water dripping from your air conditioner and rainwater are cost-saving resources for watering your plants? In addition, water used to boil eggs or steam vegetables can also be recycled.
- Use a vegetable brush and spray water in short bursts to conserve during food preparation.
- Defrost foods overnight in the refrigerator as an alternative to using running water. Also consider using your microwave or placing wrapped food in cold water.
- Limit dishwasher use to full loads. Use a rubber spatula to scrape dishes clean to limit pre-rinse. Let really dirty pans or dishes soak to speed washing and remember that most newer dishwashers don’t require pre-rinsing.
- Avoid using your garbage disposal and compost leftovers fruits and vegetables.
- Low flow faucets and showerheads can reduce consumption by more than 50%.
- Install a low-flow toilet as they need only 1.6 gallons per flush, saving
thousands of gallons per year. Unlike earlier models, low flow toilets available today receive high marks from consumers for overall performance.
- Take quick showers as an alternative to long baths to reduce water use. Limit the total time in the shower to a maximum of five minutes.
- If you must take baths, be sure to only fill the tub halfway.
- Don’t use the toilet as a trash can. Every flush you eliminate can save between two and seven gallons of water.
- Use a glass for rinse water when brushing teeth instead of letting the faucet run. Shave the same way. An electric razor also saves water.
- Fix leaking faucets and toilets. Research has shown that an average of 8% (or more) of all home water use is wasted through leaks. Test for a leaking toilet by lifting the lid off the toilet tank and putting a few drops of food coloring into the bowl. Wait a few minutes, look in the bowl, if the food coloring has made its way there, you have a leak.
- Wash only full loads of laundry. You’ll not only save water, but energy as well.
- Consider purchasing a new water- and energy- efficient clothes washer. Look for the Energy Star labeled products and save more water in one year than a person drinks in a lifetime. These units create less wear and tear on clothes, clean better, and use less detergent. Some electric utilities offer rebates for qualified models. See www.energystar.gov for more information.
- Use brooms, squeegees and dry vacuum cleaners to clean surfaces before washing with water.
Source: Georgia Environmental Protection Division
http://www.gaepd.org
