How much is your water and wastewater bill each month? Water usage can vary significantly depending on factors like the number of people in the household, how long they shower, the presence of water-saving fixtures, or laundry use. Water usage is typically much higher in warmer months when people irrigate their lawns, gardens, and landscaping, fill pools, and power wash their homes.
Conserving water is not only a great step toward lowering your monthly water bill, but it also helps decrease energy usage and ensures reliable water resources for future generations. In our most recent blog, the water quality and conservation experts at Indiana American Water discuss 10 easy ways to save water at home and decrease your water footprint.
Why Saving Water Is Important
Water is a precious resource, essential for life and vital for maintaining a sustainable environment. As global populations and industries grow, it impacts water availability and it becomes increasingly important to practice water efficiency in our daily lives. Saving water not only reduces your utility bills but also plays a crucial role in preserving our natural ecosystems and ensuring that clean drinking water is available for future generations.
Implementing water-saving measures at home can significantly reduce energy costs associated with water heating and treatment processes.
For instance, using less hot water means that your water heater consumes less energy, and choosing to compost vegetable food waste means you’ll use your garbage disposal less – both tactics that save money and reduce your household’s carbon footprint. Moreover, being mindful of water usage helps to conserve the energy required to pump, treat, and deliver water to our homes, thus benefiting the environment on multiple fronts.
In addition to the environmental and financial benefits, practicing water efficiency also contributes to a more resilient and sustainable community. By conserving both water and energy resources, we can help mitigate the effects of droughts and water shortages, ensuring that there is enough water to meet the needs of people, industries, and the environment. This holistic approach to water conservation not only supports the health of our ecosystems but also promotes a more sustainable way of living for everyone.
Benefits of Saving Water at Home
Implementing water-saving strategies at home offers a range of benefits that extend beyond just financial savings, including:
- Lower Energy Costs: Reduced water usage means less energy is needed to heat water, leading to lower utility bills.
- Reduced Strain on Municipal Systems: Conserving water lessens the demand on municipal water systems and groundwater supplies, helping to preserve these vital resources.
- Ecological Balance: By using water more efficiently, we contribute to maintaining a healthy ecological balance, supporting both local wildlife and plant life.
- Enhanced Garden Sustainability: Utilizing rain barrels for irrigation and composting vegetable food waste enriches soil quality and promotes sustainable gardening practices.
By adopting these water-saving measures, we can enjoy immediate benefits at home while also contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
10 Tips to Save Water
Water conservation is an official term that might seem daunting to get into, but we promise it’s easier than it sounds! Saving water at home starts with changing small daily habits that build up to big changes over time.
Here are some best practices to help you limit your personal water usage:
1. Fix Leaky Faucets
The sound of a leaky faucet or toilet is not only annoying, but it can also be very costly. Faucet leaks may not seem like a huge deal, but they can add up over time. According to the EPA, a leaky faucet with a drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year – or the equivalent of 180 showers!
On average, a home’s water leaks can waste as much as 10,000 gallons of water per year, so it’s important to check for leaks and have them repaired quickly. If you’re not comfortable making such repairs, contact a local plumber.
2. Repair or Replace Toilets
Even a minor toilet leak can waste a lot of water – about 22 gallons per day! Many toilet leaks are caused by worn-out toilet flappers, which are relatively easy and inexpensive to replace.
One simple way to tell if your toilet is leaking is by putting food coloring in your toilet tank. If the color appears in the toilet without flushing, the toilet has a leak. Consider installing water-saving toilets, such as low-flow models, in your home. These toilets are much more efficient than older ones and can save gallons of water each time they’re flushed.
3. Take Shorter Showers
Not much beats a hot shower in the morning, but try to limit them to five minutes or less, if possible. Showers use more water than nearly every appliance in the home, so limiting the time spent in the shower can significantly reduce water usage. If you take a bath, try to fill the tub only halfway to conserve water.
4. Turn Off the Tap
Most people brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. Turning the tap water off while brushing your teeth can save you three or four gallons of water each day, or more than 1,000 gallons over the course of a year.
Consider turning off the taps while washing dishes by hand as well. Fill one sink with hot, soapy water and the other with cold water for rinsing. When shaving, fill the sink with water to rinse your razor instead of leaving the faucet running.
5. Dishwasher Considerations
When you’re in the market for a new dishwasher, look for one with a light-wash cycle. Running a dishwasher on a lighter cycle uses less water and energy. Before running your dishwasher, make sure it’s full to maximize efficiency. Instead of pre-rinsing dishes, simply scrape them before placing them inside the dishwasher.
In a similar regard, be sure to use your garbage disposal sparingly. To run a garbage disposal, you also have to run water, and that free flow flushes your hard-earned money and precious water resources straight down the drain.
6. Washing Machine Considerations
Like your dishwasher, you can conserve water and energy by only running your washing machine when it’s full. Opt for a water-saving model that can be adjusted according to the load size. Look for washers certified by ENERGY STAR, as they can cut down on water usage by 40%. This practice also reduces energy costs on your electric bill.
7. Install Faucet Aerators
Faucet aerators are small screens that attach to the tip of faucets. They reduce splashing and deliver a mixture of water and air, decreasing water consumption while the faucet is in use. This simple addition can help save gallons of water without compromising performance.
8. Install a Low-Flow Shower Head
Showers and baths account for a significant portion of a home’s water consumption. As a result, the fixtures you’re using in the bathroom matter. Switching to water-saving shower heads can help save water before you even adjust your shower time.
Installing a low-flow shower head can significantly reduce water use, by as much as 60,000 gallons per year for a family of four. Additionally, you’ll save on your energy bill, as your water heater won’t have to work as hard to provide hot water for showers.
9. Water Your Lawn Only When Necessary
Over-watering your lawn can greatly increase your home’s overall water usage and increase your soil moisture to unnecessary levels. Aim to water the lawn once or twice a week, if rainfall isn’t sufficient. Watering in the morning or evening reduces evaporation and maximizes the amount of water that can reach root systems, ensuring your lawn gets the moisture it needs efficiently. You can also try out high-tech irrigation systems for greater control.
10. Collect Rainwater
Instead of using a hose to water your trees and plants, consider collecting rainwater. We’re not talking about putting a water bottle on the sidewalk and hoping for the best – collecting rainwater is a common practice and made relatively easy with some simple tools like a rain barrel.
Using barrels to catch the rainwater from your roof is an effective way to conserve water and keep your trees and plants healthy throughout the spring and summer. You can also consider using drip irrigation systems to water plants, which provide water directly to the roots, reducing waste.
The EPA estimates that if the average family practices these water conservation tips – coupled with purchasing Energy Star-rated appliances and WaterSense-labeled fixtures – the average American family can reduce its water waste and energy usage by 20% and save $380 per year.
Indiana American Water Is Committed to Water Conservation
Indiana American Water is committed to educating its customers about water conservation to ensure water is available for future generations.
By implementing these simple yet effective water-saving strategies at home, you can contribute to a more sustainable future, reduce your water and energy costs, and ensure the availability of clean drinking water for everyone. Start making a difference today by adopting these practices and encouraging others to do the same. Together, we can make a significant impact on preserving our planet’s most valuable resource.
Check out more helpful water-saving resources at https://amwater.com/inaw/.