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At the time of this writing, it's winter. When you talk about being water wise, people immediately think of things for the outside of their homes, like watering their lawns, or watering outside plants, washing cars, etc.
But what people don't realize is that leaks in the home, just one little leaky faucet, can lose over 3000 gallons of water a year! That's enough for over 180 showers! (Thanks EPA for that fun fact)
While I was paying my water bill the other day, I saw this cute little flier that has some great tips on it! Let me expand upon some of them, just a little bit.
Obviously, check for leaks both inside and outside the home. Those leaks can add up fast.
Only run full loads of laundry and dishes. Not only does this waste water, but electricity too.
Silent toilet leaks are another source of wasted water. Monthly, or so, put a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If the bowl starts to turn that color, you've got a leak! Toilet stoppers are inexpensive and easily interchageable by anyone! And if doesn't leak, don't worry. The colored water won't harm your toilet or plumbing.
If you haven't by now, PLEASE winterize your irrigation and insulate your outdoor faucets. The littlest water left in those pipes will freeze and cause them to burst! No one wants to pay for those repairs, much less a higher water bill!
Use rain barrels to collect water, then use that water for your outdoor needs. This can decrease your water use by at least 1,300 gallons annually. Even if you aren't a gardener, you can use it for other things too! We use ours to rinse off outside tools, and to rinse off muddy shoes and boots. If you have 4 legged friends with muddy paws, it's perfect for rinsing them off too! When my kids were little, we used the rain barrel water to rinse off the driveway from their chalk creations. Give it 10 minutes, it's dry and off they go drawing more. And here's a mom tip: If you have a budding artist that you want to have their creation stick around for awhile, have them draw with their chalk on the wet driveway. When it dries, it won't wipe off as easily. It will come off again with more water though :-)
Wasting water costs more than you think. A few minutes here and a few choices there can help you save money on your water bill as well as help out the environment!
But what people don't realize is that leaks in the home, just one little leaky faucet, can lose over 3000 gallons of water a year! That's enough for over 180 showers! (Thanks EPA for that fun fact)
While I was paying my water bill the other day, I saw this cute little flier that has some great tips on it! Let me expand upon some of them, just a little bit.
Obviously, check for leaks both inside and outside the home. Those leaks can add up fast.
Only run full loads of laundry and dishes. Not only does this waste water, but electricity too.
Silent toilet leaks are another source of wasted water. Monthly, or so, put a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait. If the bowl starts to turn that color, you've got a leak! Toilet stoppers are inexpensive and easily interchageable by anyone! And if doesn't leak, don't worry. The colored water won't harm your toilet or plumbing.
If you haven't by now, PLEASE winterize your irrigation and insulate your outdoor faucets. The littlest water left in those pipes will freeze and cause them to burst! No one wants to pay for those repairs, much less a higher water bill!
Use rain barrels to collect water, then use that water for your outdoor needs. This can decrease your water use by at least 1,300 gallons annually. Even if you aren't a gardener, you can use it for other things too! We use ours to rinse off outside tools, and to rinse off muddy shoes and boots. If you have 4 legged friends with muddy paws, it's perfect for rinsing them off too! When my kids were little, we used the rain barrel water to rinse off the driveway from their chalk creations. Give it 10 minutes, it's dry and off they go drawing more. And here's a mom tip: If you have a budding artist that you want to have their creation stick around for awhile, have them draw with their chalk on the wet driveway. When it dries, it won't wipe off as easily. It will come off again with more water though :-)
Wasting water costs more than you think. A few minutes here and a few choices there can help you save money on your water bill as well as help out the environment!
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