Renewal Construction CEO
For Decatur Living magazine, November 2007
Q: How can I reduce my home’s indoor water usage?
A: There are many ways to reduce your indoor water usage. Here are a few ideas in three categories: changing behavior patterns, maintenance/repair, and replacement/improvement.
Behavior (free!)
1. Take shorter showers.
2. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
3. Don’t let water run while shaving or washing your face.
4. Brush your teeth while waiting for water to get hot.
5. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
6. Operate dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded, or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.
7. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
8. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.
9. Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste instead of using a garbage disposal.
Maintenance/Repair (low cost)
1. Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
2. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
3. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
Replacement/Improvement (some cost, depending on options selected)
1. Replace some or all toilets with new dual-flush toilets.
2. Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs.
3. Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
4. Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
Special thanks to: American Water and Energy Savers
Just email virgina@renewalconstruction.com. Be sure to include your name and phone number in case we need additional information to answer your question.
