Summer is a season for increased water use in most households. Water consumption can double during the hottest months, whether taking more showers, washing cars, or watering plants. More water consumption means higher water bills. Save water to reduce utility costs and protect resources. Here are four tips to help you conserve water this summer.
Conserve Water When Brushing Your Teeth
Don’t leave the tap running when brushing your teeth. For most people, brushing takes about two to three minutes, meaning water is left running continuously for several minutes when it’s not needed.
Conserve water by turning your tap off while washing your hands, shaving, and brushing your teeth. Turn it back on when it’s time to rinse. You’ll save up to a gallon of water every time you’re at the sink.
Cleaning the Dishes
A modern energy-saving dishwasher uses 3 or 5 gallons of water per load, while hand washing the same dishes can use up to 20 gallons. A dishwasher helps conserve water but only runs the appliance when fully loaded.
Most machines can remove food particles, so it’s unnecessary to rinse dishes after scraping them before loading the dishwasher. Reuse your water glass instead of grabbing a clean glass each time you need a drink.
Shorten Your Showers
Another trick for conserving water during the summer is shortening your showers. Cutting shower time from ten to five minutes will save several gallons of water. Reducing the time you spend in the shower daily will save a considerable amount of money.
Turn off the shower when you’re scrubbing and turn it on again when it’s time to rinse. While waiting for the shower to heat up, collect the water in a bucket and use it for other purposes like housecleaning or watering plants.
Conserve Water: Monitor Leaks
Running toilets and leaky faucets could waste up to 3000 gallons of water per year. A slow drip may not look like a big deal, but it adds up. Make sure to turn off the tap completely and make repairs as soon as possible to stop a dripping faucet.
Test for toilet leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank. If the color appears in the bowl, the tank is leaking. Install a new flapper to fix the problem, or call a plumber if you don’t feel comfortable handling the task yourself.
Conserving water during the summer is easy with the above tips. Develop new habits to follow this advice to avoid wasting a valuable resource.
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