How to Conserve Water in the Home

Using household water more efficiently saves money and makes prudent use of a finite natural resource.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brooms
• Low-flow Shower Heads
• Buckets
• Shutoff Valves

1. Check for and fix any leaking toilets or faucets.

2. Use low-flow shower heads.

3. Install shutoff valves to reduce flow while soaping and shampooing.

4. Catch the flow of cool water in buckets while you're waiting for it to heat up; you can use it later for gardening or cooking.

5. Insulate hot-water pipes.

6. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth or shaving.

7. Avoid washing dishes under a running faucet ' rinse them in a pan instead.

8. Wait until you have a full load before running the dishwasher or clothes washing machine, and use the shortest cycles.

9. Take shorter showers.

10. Avoid wasting bath water while waiting for it to warm up. Cold water will mix quickly with hot water to give you the temperature you want.

11. Clean driveways and sidewalks with a broom rather than hosing them down.

[rajshreep]

on 8/6/2009 To save water you can use automatic or sensor faucets. For more information about sensor faucets you can check:
http://www.askonengineers.com/sensor-faucet-main.html

on 11/22/2005 By installing a RedyTemp hot water recirculator (not a water heating unit) you won't be wasting drinkable processed water, or using as much gas and electric in your home. By not having to wait for hot water, you'll been shutting the lights off sooner in the room because you'll be done quicker. The water is recirculated back to the water heater instead of down the drain, which is usually what happens with water when waiting for hot water to come out. By recirculating, you'll be reheating warmish water instead of cold city water and that means less gas to heat the water. A one minute wait for hot water can waste as much as 5 gallons each time hot water is used at that faucet during a 1 year period. That's a lot of water to be heated from 50 degree city water versus reheating warmer, recirculated water. Check out www.RedyTemp.com. They have the easiest installation of all hot water recirculators.

on 11/22/2005 Store tap water in a container in the fridge. You won't waste water waiting for it to get cold.

on 11/22/2005 Put a soft-drink bottle or two (filled with something first, say water) into the flushing tanks of the toilets. This will occupy a certain volume of the tanks and reduce the amount of water used during a flush.

on 11/22/2005 During "dustbowl days" in the '30s, rinse water from dishes and clothes was saved, heated for washing dishes and clothes, then taken outside for flowers. The soapy water poured on them provided water and washed off bugs.