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The average American family uses a whopping 400 gallons of water per day, 70 percent of which stems from indoor use. Water might be a renewable resource, but fresh water supplies are still scarce enough that streamlining daily H20 waste habits is an essential element of any action plan to create a more sustainable lifestyle. The good news is that it's easier to trim down your everyday aquatic consumption than you might expect.
Here are some simple tips for reducing your daily water use!
Kitchen efficiency
It might seem like a no-brainer, but washing dishes with the tap left open can lead to tons of water waste. Filling a pluggable sink for those scrub sessions can be a great way to reduce your use by a few gallons a day. You can also consider using your cooking water for a second purpose by draining boiling water into a pot and letting it cool before reusing it to water your houseplants, filling the toilet basin, or even topping off the sink side to suds up the same dish after you're finished.
Fill 'er up
Make sure your dishwasher and laundry machines are actually full before you run the loads. It might be tempting to push "go" before they're really at capacity to get the job done right away, but your water bill (and planet) will thank you for waiting for the whole load to begin the rinse cycles.
Common sense conservation
If you're already turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face, you get an A-plus and a gold star today. But for those who've left the water running while completing your hygiene routine, give the spout a nudge next time to stop the excess drippage.
Ditching those water detergents
Using our Dropps pacs technology, which contain a much smaller percentage of liquid than other detergent brands, the carbon footprint reduction is automatic. They're lighter, thus reducing the weight and energy of transportation, and they're also more efficient and friendly to water-dwelling species in runoff.
Mellow yellow
Switching to a WaterSense-labeled toilet can reduce the flush factor by up to 60 percent, as these efficient potties use just 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to the older models which can use up to four times as much. For those who really want to dial down the water meter, though, there's always the option of letting those number ones slide without a flush every now and then, too.
Leak control
Maintaining your home's plumbing is essential to reducing water waste. The EPA estimates that a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day, so if you detect a drip, take action and get it remedied immediately.
Shorter showers
Sure, shower time can be enjoyable and refreshing after a hard day at work or an intense exercise regimen, but keep a timer nearby to find out exactly how many minutes you're spending under the spout and see if you can't comfortable cut some of that time out.
Do you have any other tips that we should add to this list? Drop a note in the comments!