Water is a household amenity that is often taken for granted – at least until the water bill comes. Luckily, there are several simple steps you can take to save water that are conservative not only to the environment, but also to your budget. If you think your water bill is exorbitantly high, check with your water company to see if they will offer a free evaluation and consultation. Anyone can save water in his or her household by taking a few proactive measures.
Check all the faucets in your home for leaks or drips. Repairing or replacing defective faucets can save hundreds of gallons of water each year. If you are going to replace your faucets, install reduced flow versions. Reduced flow shower heads are inexpensive and can save water without you even thinking about it.
To save water in household appliances such as the dishwasher and washing machine, always run the appliance with a full load. Pay attention to how you load your dishwasher and maximize its capacity each time you run it. When you do a load of laundry, be sure to do a full load, or take advantage of your machine’s energy saving features by using the reduced load setting to save water. If your washing machine doesn’t have this setting, consider achieving a full load by including infrequently washed items, such as bed skirts, window toppers, and bath mats.
You can save water in the bathroom by paying attention to your hygiene practices. Be sure to turn the water off when you brush your teeth or shave at the sink, and try to reduce your shower time to ten minutes. Take baths sparingly, and when bathing small children, use only enough water to clean them thoroughly. Discourage playtime in the bathtub to teach efficiency while bathing. When your child grows to be a teenager, you’ll be glad you did.
If you live in a large household, especially with teenagers, discuss your efforts to save water with all members. Explain ways that household members can help practice conservative efforts. Usually, if you model a particular change, kids are quick to follow. You will be surprised how easy it is to save water with a few simple steps and minor changes in habits.