Water Saving Tips

There is something satisfying to hear your clothes washer chumming and your dishwasher rumbling. It means THINGS ARE GETTING DONE!  But are you as savvy at saving water as you are with saving money at the grocery store?

Here are some tips to help save on water:

Bathroom sink- Turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that you can save about 200 gallons of water a month!

Toilet- The biggest water-sucker in your house is the toilets.  Stop to listen for any drips or leaks.  One of the biggest water-wasters on your toilet is the flapper- if it does not close all the way, it leaks water, wasting money.  According to the EPA, switching to WaterSense labeled models, the average family can reduce water used for toilets by 20 to 60 percent—that’s nearly 13,000 gallons of water savings for your home every year!

Shower- The Lee's Summit, MO Water Utility reports that keeping your shower around 5 minutes can save up to 1,000 gallons per month.  To save even more money, switch your shower head to a low flow shower head.  Most showerheads use 2.0 gallons per minute.  There are several on the market that only use 1.5 gallons per minute, saving you a substantial amount of money on your water bill and are under $50.  Taking a shower everyday uses less water than everyday-baths.For help in choosing a showerhead, go to the EPA website here.

Leaks- If you hear water dripping, that is literally money down the drain! The EPA reports that the average family will waste 10,000 gallons of water a year with small leaks. That equals 270 loads of laundry? The most common leaks found in US homes was worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. For more tips on fixing common household leaks, go to the EPA website here.

Kitchen- Don’t run the dishwasher unless it’s full. Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes while loading it. Don't run the water while you are organizing your dishes in the dishwasher. If you wash dishes by hand, plug the sink to fill with water instead of running the water while you wash.

Laundry-Try to run your washer only if it is full.  If you must wash a small load, use the smallest water setting on your machine.

Look for the WaterSense label on products- it makes it simple to find water-efficient products.  The WaterSense-labeled products and services are certified to use at least 20 percent less water, save energy, and perform as well as or better than regular models.  To learn more about WaterSense, click here.