13 Jun Conserving Water On A Daily Basis
6/13/17
By: Kathryn Hyer
We use water everyday, for multiple reasons. From brushing our teeth and taking showers to cooking and doing the dishes, our use of water is pretty consistent. How much water are we really using, and how much of an impact is it making on our water supply? Everyday water usage has become a part of our everyday lives, but we don’t have to be wasteful with our water. Read below to find out and to know how you can begin your water conservation process.
Stats on Water Usage
The average American household uses 300 gallons of water per day. Nearly 70 percent of water usage occurs indoors, while 30 percent occurs outdoors. Daily, the amount of water we use per person in the United States is about 88 gallons. If water-saving devices were installed into every U.S. household, our use of water would decrease by a whopping 30 percent, saving an estimated amount of 5.4 billion gallons per day. This would add up to savings of $11.3 million dollars per day, and $4 billion per year.
With all of the water we use on a daily basis, we’ve come up with a few solutions of how you can conserve water in your home. To start off, we suggest you get an estimate of how much water your household is currently using by accessing the water usage calculator. After viewing your daily water usage, check out ideas for water conservation listed below.
Water Conservation Solutions
- Install water efficient products in your home
- Turn water off while shaving or brushing teeth
- Utilize a pool/hot tub cover
Water conservation isn’t as difficult as it may sound. For instance, here are a few easy ways to conserve water. First, we recommend buying water efficient products for your home. Different products with different water efficiency options include shower heads, toilets, washing machines, faucets and sprinklers. After some research and installation of these products, you’ll be cutting back on your water usage in no time.
Along with these products, water usage can easily be lessened simply by paying attention to how you’re using your water. If you keep the water running while brushing your teeth, try turning the tap off while you brush.
Likewise, water may be turned off in the shower while shaving, the sink can be turned off when washing your face, etc. When doing laundry, only do a load when it’s full. Making these little changes in your daily routine can significantly cut back on your water usage in a year.
Secondly, look for ways to cut back on water usage on home features that can’t be easily updated, such as a pool or hot tub. By simply using a cover for your pool or hot tub, you decrease the chance of water evaporation by 90-95 percent. Without a cover, a pool loses about 1 inch of water per week in the summer due to evaporation. That can add up to 3,500 gallons in 6 months, but can easily be avoided with a pool cover.
Before beginning your water conservation journey, be sure that your plumbing is in good shape! As always, Mathews Plumbing and Heating is here for you to assist with all of your plumbing needs. Give us a call today at 208-357-3439!
Sources:
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/thepowerof10/
http://www.drinktap.org/water-info/water-conservation/water-use-statistics.aspx
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water#Daily Life