Helpful Hints

A leaky faucet can waste 300 gallons of water a month.

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A leaky toilet can waste 45,000 gallons in 6 months.

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Waster water increases energy costs.  For $10 or so per shower installation, the average family can save 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of water each year, plus the energy it took to heat half that water, perhaps $20 to $50.

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Many older shower heads use 5 to 10 gallons per minute.

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An average family that uses municipal water can save as much as $50 to $75 per year on water and sewer bills by switching to low-flow showers heads and low-flush toilets.

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Test toilets for silent leaks, which can waste up to 10 ½ gallons an hour.  Put a dozen drops of red food coloring into the tank, if the dye appears in the bowl there is a silent leak; you may need to change the flapper or ball.  If no dye shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, the toilet is leak-free.

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Do not use toilets as ashtrays or wastebaskets.

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Use low-suds detergents, which require less water for rinsing; the amount of foam has no effect on the cleansing power.

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Use garbage disposals as little as possible.  Throw such garbage as bones and eggshells into the trash.

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Wash vegetables in a bowl of water, or in a sink with the drain closed.  Then rinse under the tap briefly.  Scrubbing a dozen potatoes under a tap can take 3 gallons of water.

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