Earth Day 2020 Takeover: Water Management
By: James Lim and Jennifer Smart, Water Management
Drip. Drip. Drip. The average American household wastes nearly 10,000 gallons each year from easy-to-fix water leaks—that’s the amount of water needed to wash 300 loads of laundry. If that doesn’t seem like a lot, consider that across the country, easy-to-fix household leaks can add up to nearly 1 trillion gallons of water lost every year.
So, as we celebrate Earth Day, let’s do something about it! With so many of us spending time at home, now is as good a time as any to take 10 minutes to look for leaks (you can even get the kids to help). Here’s how to identify leaks around your home:
And if you find any leaks, be sure to make repairs. Fixing household leaks not only saves water but reduces water utility bills—by about 10 percent! If you need to make repairs, apply pipe tape to be sure plumbing fixture connections are sealed tight and give leaking faucets and showerheads a firm twist with a wrench. In many cases, a simple washer replacement may do the job, but if you can’t stop those drops yourself, contact your favorite plumbing professional.
If you just can’t nip that drip with a repair, it may be time to replace the fixture. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which use at least 20 percent less water and are independently certified to perform as well or better than standard plumbing fixtures. For example, replacing an old, inefficient showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model will shrink your household’s water footprint by 2,700 gallons annually while still letting you shower with power, thanks to WaterSense’s efficiency and performance criteria. With less hot water passing through, WaterSense labeled showerheads can also save enough energy to power a television for a year. Visit www.durhamsaveswater.org for more tips and information about our programs to help you save water every day.
To wrap up, we have four tips to share with you and your family to ensure proper water conservation efforts while at home:
Drip. Drip. Drip. The average American household wastes nearly 10,000 gallons each year from easy-to-fix water leaks—that’s the amount of water needed to wash 300 loads of laundry. If that doesn’t seem like a lot, consider that across the country, easy-to-fix household leaks can add up to nearly 1 trillion gallons of water lost every year.So, as we celebrate Earth Day, let’s do something about it! With so many of us spending time at home, now is as good a time as any to take 10 minutes to look for leaks (you can even get the kids to help). Here’s how to identify leaks around your home:
- Turn off anything that uses water inside and outside your home. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak. Learn how to locate and read your meter in this video.
- Check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if it appears in the bowl before you flush. Learn how in this video.
- Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Not sure where to look? Get some tips by watching this video and don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
And if you find any leaks, be sure to make repairs. Fixing household leaks not only saves water but reduces water utility bills—by about 10 percent! If you need to make repairs, apply pipe tape to be sure plumbing fixture connections are sealed tight and give leaking faucets and showerheads a firm twist with a wrench. In many cases, a simple washer replacement may do the job, but if you can’t stop those drops yourself, contact your favorite plumbing professional.If you just can’t nip that drip with a repair, it may be time to replace the fixture. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which use at least 20 percent less water and are independently certified to perform as well or better than standard plumbing fixtures. For example, replacing an old, inefficient showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model will shrink your household’s water footprint by 2,700 gallons annually while still letting you shower with power, thanks to WaterSense’s efficiency and performance criteria. With less hot water passing through, WaterSense labeled showerheads can also save enough energy to power a television for a year. Visit www.durhamsaveswater.org for more tips and information about our programs to help you save water every day.
- The Stay-at-Home Order may mean increased residential water usage for many of us, as we all spend more time washing hands, washing clothes, eating in, and doing dishes. To offset the increased water usage, consider conserving water by taking shorter showers, checking toilets for leaks, and limiting outdoor watering this spring.
- Handwashing means scrubbing for at least 20 seconds: palms, backs, between the fingers, and under the nails. However, running an older model faucet for that length of time can waste as much as a gallon of water. Water efficiency experts recommend turning off the tap until it’s time to rinse.
- It’s important to note that toilet paper is the only hygiene product that’s safe to flush. “Flushable” wipes don’t readily break down in water. Wet wipes, baby wipes, pre-moistened towelettes, cleaning wipes, even tissues and paper towels obstruct pipes and lead to sewer overflows. Not good for the environment!
- Did you know it’s reported that less than 10% of all plastics thrown away are actually recycled? That includes single-use water bottles. But you don’t need them. Durham’s tap water is safe. Conventional water treatment methods remove or inactivate viruses and bacteria.
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