How to Conserve Water in Your Home

There are many ways to save water indoors. Finding leaks, installing more water-efficient fixtures and appliances, and changing daily habits can lead to sizable water savings. Use these indoor water conservation tips to help reduce water waste in your home.

Fixing Leaks

According to the EPA, 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day! Imagine how much space 90 milk jugs would take up—that’s a lot of wasted water. Even if your leak seems minor, it adds up. A faucet that drips 10 times per minute can waste 500 gallons per year. The good news is that you can find and fix many common leaks without calling a plumber. Here are some tips:

Start by inspecting your faucets for drips. If you have drippy faucet, check to see if the washer is worn or cracked. Replacing a washer is easy and inexpensive. Check out the DIY Network’s guide to repairing faucets.

Check to see if the showerhead is dripping. Make sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe system. Secure the connection using pipe tape, or Teflon tape, which is available at most hardware stores. You can also check the O-ring inside the showerhead for wear or cracks. If a leak persists, call your plumber.

Look at faucet gaskets and pipe fittings. Check pipes under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, by the dishwasher, and near the washing machine. You should not see any surface cracks or water on the outside of pipes. If you do, call your plumber.

Inspect your appliances. Look for standing water or moisture near your refrigerator, dishwasher, and washing machine—this can be a sign of a leak.

Read your water meter. Check your meter at a time when you aren’t using any water and record the meter reading. Check the meter again after two hours of no water use. If your meter reading changes, you may have a leak.

Test the toilet. Toilets account for about 24 percent of indoor water use. A leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water in a day! To check for a leak at the toilet:

Place dye tablets (available for free at City Hall) or a few droplets of food coloring in the toilet tank. Do not flush the toilet.
Wait 5-10 minutes.
Look into the toilet bowl. If any dye or food coloring has reached the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

Most toilet leaks can easily be fixed at home for a low cost and without calling a plumber. Toilet leaks are often caused by worn-out flappers, which are inexpensive rubber parts that can be easily replaced.

Want to repair the leak yourself? Learn how with this step-by-step video from the Regional Water Providers Consortium.

Efficient Appliances and Fixtures

When it’s time to upgrade your appliances, replace your old ones with high-efficiency versions that can help you save water and energy. Newer appliances typically use less water than older ones, and high-efficiency models use even less.

When shopping for appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR® and WaterSense labels. ENERGY STAR certified appliances use less energy than non-certified appliances. Products with the WaterSense label meet the EPA’s criteria for water efficiency and performance.

Washing Machines

Replacement is recommended if your washing machine was manufactured before 2003. Doing so could save up to 6,000 gallons of water each year.

Washing machines manufactured before 2003 use about 40 gallons of water per load. By contrast, a modern ENERGY STAR-certified front loader uses only 13 gallons—that’s a savings of 27 gallons per load, or about 6,000 gallons each year.

Keep in mind that not all newer machines are high-efficiency. Today’s conventional top-loading washing machines use 23 gallons of water per load. If you are in the market for a new washer, look for a high-efficiency front loader with the ENERGY STAR instead of a conventional top loader.

Toilets

Replacement is recommended for toilets manufactured before 1994. Replacing an older toilet could save up to 13,000 gallons of water each year. If you have a newer toilet, you may still be able to save water by upgrading to a WaterSense-labeled toilet.

Toilets manufactured before 1994 use 3.5 gallons per flush or more. Current plumbing standards require toilets to use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. You could save about 13,000 gallons per year by upgrading to a WaterSense-labeled toilet, which uses only 1.28 gallons per flush without sacrificing performance.

Dishwashers

Replacement is recommended if your dishwasher is from 1994 or earlier. Older dishwashers use more than 10 gallons of water per load. You could save more than 1,000 gallons of water each year by upgrading to an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher.

ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers are designed to use less energy than conventional dishwashers. They have advanced technology that improves efficiency and performance, including improved water filtration, more efficient jets, and innovative dish rack designs. ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers use 3.5 gallons of water per cycle or less.

Showerheads

If you are using a standard showerhead, replacement is recommended. By replacing it with a low-flow showerhead, you can save up to 2,900 gallons of water a year.

WaterSense-labeled showerheads are designed to use less water without sacrificing performance—meaning you can save water without even noticing a difference when you shower. You can get free low-flow showerheads at the City Hall counter, or buy one at a hardware store for as little as $10.

Remember that if you replace your showerheads, don’t use it as an excuse for a longer shower. You need to keep your showers the same length (or shorter) to save water!

Faucet Aerators

A faucet aerator can save up to 700 gallons of water each year. An aerator is a small accessory that screws onto the tip of your faucet and regulates the faucet flow. Faucet aerators force water through small holes to create a uniform flow of air and water.

Installing or upgrading faucet aerators is an inexpensive way to reduce your water use. You can get a free faucet aerator at City Hall, or buy one at a hardware store for less than $10.

For example, WaterSense-labeled bathroom faucet aerators use 1.5 gallons per minute or less. That’s 30 percent less water than standard federal plumbing standards of 2.2 gallons per minute.

Changing Habits: Easy Tips to Help You Save Water Indoors

When doing laundry, always wash full loads. Adjust your machine’s water setting to the appropriate load size.
Wash dishes in the dishwasher, instead of by hand. Scrape dishes clean rather than pre-rinsing.
Use the microwave to defrost frozen foods, not running water.
Turn the water off when you are brushing your teeth.
Take shorter showers. Just reducing your shower time by 2 minutes can save about 5 gallons of water.
Place a bucket under the shower while waiting for the water to heat up. You can use that water to flush the toilet or water plants.