Every Drop Counts
Drip. Drip. Drip. Many people consider a leaky faucet a mere annoyance. But if every household in America and Canada had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day would leak away, according to the American Water Works Association.
That’s a lot, considering the AWWA predicts the average household uses approximately 146,000 gallons of water each year. But water is wasted in more ways than through a leaky faucet. Mr. Rooter® has some helpful household hints to keep you from wasting water.
For those who insist on rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, wash them in a basin of cold water rather than under a running faucet of hot water. Be vigilant about turning off the water when shaving or brushing your teeth. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.
Water can also be wasted because of a lack of maintenance. Check all the faucets, hoses and appliances that use water in your house for leaks and drips.
Finally, examine your toilets — they account for almost 30 percent of all indoor water use, and most of the time they are the biggest culprits of wasting water. Just by listening you can tell if your toilet is running, but to check the water level, you’ll have to open the toilet tank.
If you are willing to spend the money on a new toilet it will actually save you money each month on water and wastewater bills. An ultra low-flow toilet requires only 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared to toilets made before 1994 that use 3.5 to 7 gallons for each flush. By replacing your toilet, you could save 7,900 to 21,700 gallons of water a year.
