Smart Ways to Save Water During a Drought Warning

For those of us living in western states, water conservation has taken center stage as droughts force water restrictions in many towns. But even if you’re not facing literal drought conditions, using less water is also a cost concern. Water bills across the country have risen an average of 24% since 2019.

Luckily, there are a lot of ways to save water — and most of them require very little effort. For example, “We often think we need to rinse dishes before adding them to the dish water,” says sustainability expert Marcus Griswold, who runs the website Little Green Myths. “But this wastes as much as 6,000 gallons of water a year.”

Here’s how to figure out where your water is going, plus ways to up your water conservation at home.

Understanding Your Water Usage

If you want to see how much water you use during a typical day or week, look at your water meter. “The average person uses 82 gallons of water a day at home, so you can use this as a baseline,” says Griswold.

To learn how much water a specific appliance uses, check the owner’s manual. You can also calculate the gallons per minute that your shower and other fixtures use by timing how long it takes to fill up a gallon jug.

Fixing Leaks and Reducing Waste

Even small leaks can waste a major amount of water. “Homeowners often don’t realize that fixing them can save way more than shortening their showers by a few minutes,” says plumbing expert Caleb Caviness of AryCo home services. “And most can be fixed with $10 in parts and 15 minutes of DIY work, so not fixing them is literally like flushing money down the drain.”

For example, a faucet that drips once per second gives up 3,000 gallons over the course of a year, while a leaky toilet flapper can waste 200 gallons a day, says Caviness.

To check for hidden leaks in your home and irrigation system, don’t use the water for at least two hours and see if your water meter still goes up. If it does, it’s time to start hunting for that leak. Also, ask your insurance company if they provide a leak monitoring service.

Conserving Water In the Bathroom

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
• Turn off the shower while lathering up.
• Use a timer to keep track of shower length.
• In non-efficient toilets, put a brick or full water bottle into the tank to reduce water volume.

Conserving water also helps save money on your power bill. “It takes a surprising amount of energy to pump, heat, treat and move water, so simple steps can add up,” says Kate Colarulli of CleanChoice Energy.

Conserving Water in the Kitchen

• Use the dishwasher, which can save upward of 2,400 gallons a year compared to handwashing.
• Simply scrape the food from your dishes instead of pre-rinsing them. Modern dishwashers are designed to work this way.
• Wait until the dishwasher is full before running it.
• When you do hand wash, plug the sink, so you’re not running water continuously.

Conserving Water in the Laundry Room

• Wash towels less often.
• Wear clothes more than once.
• If your washer doesn’t have a load-size sensor, run only full loads.

Conserving Water in the Yard

• Plant native plants, which require less water and fertilizer. “Native plants also provide vital habitat for wildlife and pollinators, promoting a healthy ecosystem,” says Colarulli.
• Swap some or all of your turf grass for native grasses and other low-water landscaping designs. It’ll also save you from having to mow.
• Water early in the morning, so less evaporates.
• Install a rain barrel to collect runoff water, which can then be used in the garden.
• Consider these other tips, too.

Water Efficiency Upgrades

Upgrading to low-flow shower heads and faucets is an inexpensive way to significantly boost water conservation. An even cheaper and easier solution is to install high-efficiency faucet aerators, which run between $5 and $15. “If you can unscrew a lightbulb, you can do this,” says Caviness. “They’ll reduce your facet’s flow by about 30%, without making it feel like you’re washing your hands under a leaky straw.”

Dual-flush water-efficient toilets are a more expensive upgrade, but they can save thousands of gallons a year. They cost between $150 and $300, and are DIY-able for those with basic plumbing knowledge.

Outside, it’s not too difficult to DIY install a smart irrigation controller. They cost between $100 and $250, and adjust water flow based on precipitation and soil saturation.

More expensive upgrades include energy and water-efficient dishwashers and washing machines. The latter can save about 30 gallons per load, says Griswold.

Daily Habits That Reduce Water Usage

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. “It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’ll save around four gallons of water every time you do it,” says Caviness.
• Time your showers.
• Turn off the faucet while doing the dishes.
• Find ways to reuse water, other than pouring it down the drain. For example, “You can dump boiled water onto dishes to soak and pre-rinse, or use cleaner boiled water to water plants once it has cooled down,” says Griswold.

FAQ

What is greywater, and is it safe to reuse?

Greywater is water that’s already been used in the shower, washing machine and sinks (but not your toilet). Since it just contains soap and some dirt, it’s generally safe to use in toilets and for lawn irrigation, but not for drinking water or watering root vegetables. If it has a low amount of soap, it can also be used to water plants. Just be sure to use it promptly, to prevent bacteria from growing in it, says Caviness.

Do water-saving appliances really make a difference?

Yes, they significantly reduce water usage. For example, an Energy Star dishwasher uses less than four gallons, while handwashing can consume upward of 20; and an efficient washing machine uses about 10 gallons, compared with 40 on older models. “Over a year, the upgrade pays for itself,” says Caviness.

About the Experts

• Marcus Griswold is a sustainability expert, and runs the website Little Green Myths, which is focused on evaluating key questions around sustainability science and consumer goods.
• Caleb Caviness is the general manager of AryCo, a plumbing, HVAC and electrical services company in North Texas.
• Kate Colarulli is chief strategy officer at CleanChoice Energy.

The post Smart Ways to Save Water During a Drought Warning appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Smart Ways to Save Water During a Drought Warning