Making eco-friendly choices is not always easy. These methods can cut into your normal routines and make your life circumstances more difficult — which, in turn, makes you much less likely to apply those eco-friendly methods in your day-to-day routine. However, one area you may be able to make a significant impact is your water use.
There are several methods to reduce your water use, and they only require minor changes in your home or business.
Identify and Stop Water Leaks
A minor leak from a faucet or a continuously running toilet may be easy to ignore while you’re handling your busy day, but they can result in gallons upon gallons of water being wasted. Fixing or replacing the faulty plumbing will solve this problem and increase your water efficiency.
Replace Old appliances and Fixtures
Installing updated appliances and fixtures such as the following can also reduce your water use:
- High-efficiency clothes washers. While reducing energy use, these appliances can also reduce water use by roughly 30% compared to older machines.
- Low-flow showerhead. These showerheads can reduce up to 5,000 gallons of water annually while keeping the variety of sprays to which you are accustomed.
- Faucet aerators. Faucet aerators can help create a consistent flow of water while reducing hot water usage by up to 50%.
- Low-flow toilet. Replacing old toilets with these can save over a gallon of water per flush. Since replacing a toilet may not be feasible for you, adding a toilet tank bank to your existing toilet can also reduce almost a gallon of water per flush.
Add a Soil Moisture Meter
Soil moisture meters read moisture levels of the soil to prevent over-watering, making them valuable to gardeners and those just looking to reduce their water use. Not only will this reduce water usage, but it can also reduce the risk of plant death from overwatering.
Reducing your water usage does not require major life changes. These simple and minor adjustments can reduce your water and energy consumption. If you are unsure of how to approach these projects, the professionals from BPI Plumbing can help!