Taking a few small steps to conserve water can greatly impact the environment and your pocketbook. In our most recent blog, the professionals at Indiana American Water discuss some helpful tips for saving water inside your home and how to use a water use calculator to show you how much water you’re using and where you can make appropriate changes.
Tips for Saving Water Inside Your Home
Upgrade to Water- and Energy-efficient Appliances
Consider installing appliances and fixtures that have earned the WaterSense label. WaterSense-labeled products have met the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s water efficiency and performance specifications. Products meeting the WaterSense criteria are at least 20 percent more water efficient than the average products in their category. You can find the WaterSense label on bathroom sink faucets and accessories, showerheads, toilets, urinals and weather-based irrigation controllers.
Operate Appliances Efficiently
Run washing machines and dishwashers only when there are full loads so you’re not wasting water. If you must run the washing machine with a smaller load, adjust the water level to match the load size. Use water-saver cycles if offered.
Check for Leaks
Check your toilets, pipes and faucets regularly for leaks and have them repaired as soon as possible. According to the EPA, the average home wastes nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year due to household leaks. Hidden leaks behind walls and in crawl spaces can be difficult to locate. Stopping these leaks can not only help conserve water but can also help you save money on your water bill. If you’re unsure whether there is a leak in your home, if you have access to your water meter, check it after going a full hour without using any water. If the meter changes at all, there’s likely a leak somewhere and you should contact a licensed plumber. Leaky faucets, running toilets, and even a small drip from a showerhead or pipe can really add up. According to the EPA, the average toilet tank leak can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day.
Use Water Smartly
Turn off the tap while you’re washing dishes in the sink or brushing your teeth. Turning the bathroom faucets off while brushing teeth can save about 2 or 3 gallons of water each time, which can conserve hundreds of gallons of water per year. This will help reduce your water footprint and save you money on monthly water bills.
Insulate Water Pipes for Quick Hot Water
Using pre-slit foam insulation to insulate exposed water pipes can help heat water quickly so you don’t waste as much water waiting for it to warm up.
How a Water Use Calculator Can Help You Conserve Water
A water use calculator is an incredibly useful tool to help save water indoors. The tool allows you to input information about your household’s water use and offers tips on where you can save water based on the data you enter. For example, you’ll be asked to enter information about your family’s water usage, including how many showers are taken each day, how many times the toilets are flushed and how often you do dishes and run the washing machine.
You’ll receive important information about how you can begin to modify your water use. For example, maybe you learned your kids are taking 20-minute showers which is causing your home’s water consumption to increase. Shortening shower times is just one way to significantly reduce water consumption.
American Water is a member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, which offers a great online water use calculator that we recommend for our customers.
Indiana American Water Is Committed to Water Conservation
Indiana American Water is committed to ensuring there is water for future generations through outdoor and indoor water conservation efforts including educating our customers about how they can reduce their water footprint. For more information about wise water use, click here.