Sunday, July 10, 2011

Water Conservation Checklist for the Home


Water Conservation Checklist for the Home

How much water do you use in a day? A gallon? Ten gallons? Few people know how much they use. The amount is likely to be 60 gallons per person per day. This figure has tripled since 1900!
Imagine what it would be like to turn on the tap and find nothing there. People in some parts of the country know this can happen. They are learning how to conserve water. They know that water is a limited resource.
Now, water shortages are a local or regional problem. But in recent years all parts of Montana have experienced drought problems. It is wise to learn now how to conserve nature's precious supply of fresh water.
This checklist is designed to help you see how effectively you are using water, and to alert you to ways to save it. While many of the steps may seem extreme - give a moment's thought to what extreme actions you would have to take if your water supply was curtailed.
Use, Gallons Used per Day
1. Dishwashing, 15
2. Cooking, drinking 12
3. Utility sink (washing hands, etc.), 5
4. Laundry, 35
5. Bathing, 80
6. Bathroom sink, 8
7. Toilet, 100
TOTAL 255

As you read this list, think about the steps you have already taken to conserve water. Note what you still need to do to become a better manager of water resources. PLUMBING
  • Install flow control devices in showers.
     
  • Or, limit the amount of shower water by the way you use hot and cold water faucets.
  • Cut off all water if you are going to be away from home on a vacation or trip. This keeps children from turning on outside faucets while you are away.
  • Check to see how often your home water softening equipment regenerates and backwashes. It can use as much as 100 gallons of water each time it does this. You may want to cut down on the use of such equipment. Reserve softened water for kitchen use, bathing and laundry. Use unsoftened water for all other purposes. This may require a bypass line but this is advisable under any circumstances.
  • Insulate hot water pipes to reduce the amount of water that must be run to get hot water to the faucet.
  • If possible, locate the hot water heater as close as possible to bathroom, kitchen and laundry areas. The closer the heater is to the faucet, the less water has to be run. For this reason, it's sometimes better to have two small water heaters located in strategic places.
  • Check faucets for drips. Make repairs promptly. These problems get worse--never better. (See Extension Publication EB 16, "Home Fitness," for repair details)
  • Teach children to turn water faucets off tightly after use.
  • See if your toilet continues to flow after flushing. Put a small amount of food coloring into the tank. If the color trickles into the bowl, there is a leak and repairs are needed. (See Extension Publication EB 16, "Home Fitness," for repair details.)
  • Place a quart plastic (not glass) bottle filled with water in your toilet flush tank to save 1 quart of water per flush.
  • Don't use a brick to till space in your toilet flush tank. Brick particles could damage valves.
  • You can adjust the float level of the toilet to reduce the amount of water necessary to flush the toilet. Do this carefully to avoid damaging the system.
  • In buying a new toilet, look for a "low volume" model. They don't use as much water per flush.
  • Use "gray" water (saved from cleaning, bathing) to flush the toilet. Note: Put the "gray" water into the bowl--not the flush tank--when it needs flushing. Otherwise, if the system loses pressure, "gray" water in the tank could back-siphon and get into your drinking water system.
  • Avoid using the toilet as a trash basket for facial tissues and similar items. Each flush uses 5 to 7 gallons of water.

LAUNDRY
  • Wash only full loads of laundry.
  • Buying a new washing machine? An automatic clothes washer uses 32-45 gallons of water per load. Shop carefully and look for these features:
      Models that use less water. Capacity to fill needs. Don't buy a larger machine than you need. "Float fill" models that provide a more accurate control of the amount of water used than "time" fill. Water level controls so you can adjust the amount of water you use, depending on the load. "Suds saver" models that save wash water for later loads.
  • Use the "gray" water that siphons from your washing machine into a laundry tub for cleaning, to flush the toilet, or water plants. See directions for using "gray" water on plants. Use all "gray" water as soon as possible. Do not store longer than 24 hours.
  • Save handwashing jobs and do them all together. If possible, use the same sudsy water for several items. Make one rinse do the job of two.
  • Check garments to make sure they need washing. Don't wash clothes more often than necessary.
  • Avoid buying new clothes that require separate washings.

PERSONAL CARE
  • Urge family members to take showers instead of tub baths. Baths take as much as 30-50 gallons of water. Showers use 5-15 gallons of water per minute.
  • Cut down on the number of showers taken. Replace some of them with sponge baths using a small amount of water in a basin.
  • Limit shower time to 2 minutes or less.
  • Relax with massage, stretching, or exercises instead of showers to save water.
  • Turn off shower water while you apply soap to body or lather hair.
  • If possible, close bathtub drain during shower so that all the water stays in the tub. Use this to flush the toilet or water outdoor plants.
  • Turn off water while you shave, brush teeth, etc.
  • Encourage children to change into play clothes after school so that school and play clothes can be worn several times.


FOOD PREPARATION
  • Save water used to wash produce and to do other kitchen chores by placing a bowl or basin under the faucet. Use water saved for cleaning, watering plants, and similar chores.
  • To get warm water, turn hot water on first; then add cold water as needed. You get warm water quicker this way and save water.
  • Reduce the use of garbage disposals--which use as much as 2 gallons of water per minute--by peeling vegetables, eggs and other foods on newspapers. Wrap the food waste and dispose of it with the trash. Or, use food waste in a garden compost pile.
  • Use only the amount of water necessary to cook foods such as frozen vegetables and stews. You'll preserve nutritional value as well as save water.
  • Cook foods over low heat in pans with tightly fitted lids to reduce evaporation of liquid.
  • Plan more one-dish casserole meals in which vegetables are cooked without adding cooking water.
  • Use a tea kettle to heat water and avoid loss of water through evaporation.
  • Time foods that must boil so that too much evaporation does not take place.
  • Select the proper size pans for cooking. Pans that are too large require more cooking water.
  • Use a pressure cooker to save time and water.
  • If possible, cover or wrap foods in aluminum foil during baking or roasting to cut down on the evaporation of liquid.
  • Save leftover vegetable juices for reconstituting soups, cooking raw or frozen vegetables and stews, and making gravy. Use within a day or two.
  • Use leftover fruit juices for drinking and making gelatin salads.
  • Store drinking and meal preparation water for a short period of time, 24 hours or less, if an emergency water shortage seems likely. Use clean plastic or glass jugs with tight fitting lids. Keep in the refrigerator.
  • Chill water in bottles in the refrigerator to avoid running water. Shake bottle before serving to incorporate air in the water so that it doesn't taste flat.
  • Put drinking water on the table only if people really drink it.


DISHWASHING
  • Cut down on the number of utensils used in preparing food, and on the plates and glassware used with meals. This will save on dishwashing.
  • Wash only full loads of dishes in dishwasher. A dishwasher uses about 14 gallons of water per load.
  • Avoid unnecessary rinsing of dishes that go into the dishwasher. Scrape if necessary.
  • If washing dishes by hand, use one pan of soapy water for washing and a second pan of hot water for rinsing. Wash least dirty dishes first.


HOUSEHOLD CLEANING
  • Wipe up small spills as they occur to avoid frequent mopping of floors.
  • Regularly vacuum carpets and rugs so you won't need to shampoo them too often. Take care of spots as they occur.
  • "Collect" household cleaning chores. Do them together to save water.


HOUSE PLANTS
  • Use rinse water saved from bathing or clothes washing to water indoor plants. Do not use soapy water on indoor plants. It could damage them.
  • Water indoor plants only when needed. Too much water can damage plants.

OUTSIDE THE HOME
 
  • Car washing can use a lot of water. You may have to lower your standards and wash the car less often.
  • Drive your car onto your lawn before you wash it. Water if needed grass as you wash your car.
  • Use a bucket of sudsy water to remove soil from the car. Hose down only as a final rinse.
  • Take advantage of a soft summer rain to wash your car. Get out there with soap and a sponge!
  • If you go to a car wash, patronize one that recirculates water.
  • If water supply permits use of outdoor pool, cover the pool when it's not being used to prevent evaporation.
  • Clean the swimming pool filter often. Then you won't have to replace the water as often.
  • Soapy water that comes from soap you can use on your skin if OK for outdoor plants. Do not use water with bleach or borax compound in it on plants. It could damage them. Rinse water can be used on outdoor or indoor plants.
  • If water is rationed or otherwise restricted, lawns and annuals should receive the lowest priority for outside watering. Trees and shrubs are more expensive to replace and should receive any available water.
  • "Mulch" to retain moisture in the soil. Spread leaves, lawn clippings, newspapers or plastic around plants. Mulching also controls weeds that compete with garden plants for water.
  • Try "trickle" or "drip" irrigation systems in outdoor gardens. These methods use 25-50 percent less water than hose or sprinkler methods. A tiny plastic tube runs along the ground near plants. The trickle system provides many tiny holes to water closely placed plants. The drip system tubing contains holes or openings at strategic places for tomatoes and other plants that are more widely spaced.
  • If you are using a garden hose or sprinkler, water the garden less frequently but water it thoroughly. Don't let water run down driveway or street.
  • Use a broom, not the hose, to clean the garage, the sidewalks and the driveway.
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