Water Conservation in the Home

WATER CONSERVATION

Prudence Kinley-Ruth of Pennsylvania checked the following web sites and found how much water it takes to do various daily tasks.  Thanks for your research, Prudence!

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=1501
http://avenue.org/tjswcd/directorsandstaff/page3.html

 

HOW MUCH WATER IT TAKES TO USE:

*Shower: 25-50 gallons
*Tub bath: 36 gallons
*Toilet flush: 5-7 gallons
*Brushing teeth: 2-5 gallons
*Dish washing: 20 gallons
*Automatic dishwasher: 9-12 gallons
*Clothes washing machine: 45-55 gallons
*A birch tree evaporates 70 gallons of water per day.
*An acre of corn evaporates 4,000 gallons of water per day.
*A person typically uses 50 gallons of water per day.
*One household uses 107,000 gallons per year.

VARIOUS WAYS TO SAVE WATER

Tips by Prudence Kinley-Ruth (PA), Elinor Wright (VA), Linda Crosby (VA), and Lois

*Keep a basin in your kitchen sink.  Wash fruits and vegetables in the basin and then use that water to water plants and shrubs.  Pour on the ground, rather than on the plants.  A small amount of soap will help the water to soak down into the soil better. 

*Wash or rinse your hands over a basin to save the water for plants and shrubs.

*If washing dishes by hand, use less soap, run hot rinse water in a basin and swish to rinse, washing glasses first, flatware next, dishes, then pots and pans.  If you are careful, this method can save more water than a dishwasher.

*Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when full -- save1,000 gallons per month.

*Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation -- save hundreds of gallons per year.

*Set lawn mower to a higher setting -- longer grass will reduce evaporation.

*Install low-volume toilets or place a brick or two in tank of toilet.

*Check toilet for leak with food coloring -- save 600 gallons per month.

*Flush toilets only when really necessary.

*Install low-flow shower head and save 500 gallons per week.

*Turn off water while shampooing -- save 50 gallons per week.

*When taking a shower, use less water volume, plus shorten the time.  Turn off water while sudsing up.

*Until you get hot water in the shower, collect it in a small bucket to use elsewhere (water plants or shrubs, wash dishes or clothes, flush toilets).

*Turn off water while brushing teeth -- save 4 gal. per min./200 gal. per week for family of 4.

*When brushing teeth, wet the brush, turn off water, brush teeth, swish and rinse mouth with only a small bathroom cup of water.  Rinse brush.  This job can be done with just a cup of water.

*A suds saver used on your washing machine would save water.

*Collect rain water to water plants and trees.

*Refrain from using your garbage disposal, which uses a lot of water.

*If you have a stream on your property, dip out water for flowers, shrubs and trees.

*The number of days that towels are used by family members makes a difference in the amount of water used for laundry.  Use more than one or two days.

*Many clothes can be worn more than once or twice before laundering as well.  See that children hang up clothes, rather than throwing on the floor. 

*Be adventuresome.  Wash your car when it rains!  Kids would love this job!