With this summer’s heat, you may want to use more water than needed. Make sure you check out some helpful tips for conserving water in and out of your home:
Summer Tips: Saving Water Around the Home
While we often call Earth the “water planet” because 70% of its surface is covered by water, less than 1% of that precious resource is available for human use. Given the lower than average rainfall in the US and many places around the globe this summer, many of us are looking at ways to save water.
Did you know that the average family of four in the United States uses about 400 gallons of water a day as part of their daily routine? About 70 percent of that water is used inside the home during daily activities like taking a shower, brushing our teeth, going to the bathroom, cooking, washing clothes, etc. So what can we do to use our water more efficiently?
Well, here are several green tips for saving water in and around the home:
- One of the first things we should do is to repair any leaks around the home. Did you know that the average American household can waste over 10,000 gallons of water every year from leaking toilets, dripping faucets, or other leaks in pipes at home and in the garden?
- Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth or shaving
- Take short showers instead of baths
- Use the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded!
- Instead of rinsing dishes first, just scrape the food off plates when loading them into the dishwasher.
- Another suggestion that helps to save water and reduce waste—take food wastes to make compost instead of using the garbage disposal.
- Only wash full loads of laundry and make the appropriate water selection according to the load size
- Get water efficient appliances (dishwasher, clothes washer, showerheads, toilets, etc.) with the WaterSense label. These are 20 percent more water efficient than other traditional products on the market.
- In the garden, don’t overwater your plants and lawn.
- Water the plants in the early morning before 7 am to reduce evaporation.
- Check your garden hose for leaks. Close the water faucet when not in use.
- When landscaping, choose native plants that are appropriate for your region. Not only will they use less water, but they are more resistant to pests and diseases.
To read the full article, visit http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2012/07/summer-tips-saving-water-around-the-home/
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