Water Conservation: Why it Doesn’t Have to be Scary

The term Water Conservation is defined as any beneficial reduction of water use, loss or waste. It also encompasses the management of the environment and how water resources will be used for the future generations.

In California, Governor Jerry Brown has issued a statewide water restriction due to the severe water shortage. Although many people associate water conservation with a negative connotation, there are several ways to conserve water without the feeling of hardship.

Ten percent of the homes in the United States can waste up to 90 gallons of water every single day. This accounts for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. These numbers are all avoidable because they are directly connected to leaks. Correcting household leaks is the first step towards reducing the amount of water that is wasted. A simple habit to start implementing is to regularly check your water meter. This can provide better awareness as to a potential of leaks in your household once you understand the baseline of water use.

Sometimes leaks are undetectable, but could be the culprit to water waste in your household.  A silent toilet leak can waste 30 gallons of water per day and larger leaks can be up to 6 gallons per minute. If your toilet is making noise when it hasn’t been flushed, then you could have a leaking toilet. Test this by placing food coloring in the tank and waiting 15 minutes, if color shows in the bowl, you have a leak. Remember to flush after this experiment to avoid staining. Other times, leaks can be seen, but unrealized as to how much water is actually wasted. A showerhead that leaks 10 drips a minute wastes over 500 gallons per year. Watch showerheads and/or bathtub faucets to see if they continually drip after use. If they do, then they may need replacement washers or gaskets.  Pipe tape can be used on shower heads to make sure water doesn’t leak out. A slow dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water every day. When you see a faucet in your house dripping water, ensure that it tightly shut off. If the drip continues, then it may be due to a worn out washer. You may be able to change this yourself. Turn off the shut off valve closest to the faucet and then proceed to change the washer. If you are unsure, you can always call your Bonney plumber for help.

Besides fixing leaks and monitoring your water meter, you can also switch out your fixtures to water efficient fixtures. Installing water-efficient showerheads can help reduce water waste by 1 gallon per minute. Replacing an old toilet with a new high-efficiency model can save close to 2,400 gallons of water a year, which is about 4.8 gallons of water per flush. A hot water recirculation pump will provide instant hot water from your tap and will save as much as 12,000 gallons of water a year. This will reduce the amount of time waiting for water to heat up and wasting water in the process.

Water sustainability is an achievable dream. Being more aware of the water used in your house and how to find water efficient solutions is the first step towards this goal. Now is the time, more than ever, to get that small leak fixed or to install an efficient toilet or to shorten bathing time.

If you believe you have a plumbing issue, our skilled and professional technicians at Bonney can help you get the job done. Call us today to schedule your water conservation inspection and start your path to being water efficient. Water Conservation; We can do it together!

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