How to Conserve Water Usage This Summer
Summer’s rising temperatures often coincide with rising indoor and outdoor water use around the home. This year, as we spend more time in our homes, there’s no doubt our water usage will increase dramatically.
Reducing water usage in your home cuts your water bill and helps to preserve our environment. Here are five easy ways you can reduce your home’s water usage and your water bill this season.
1. Shorten Your Shower
Start small by reducing two minutes off your shower time. Over 1,750 gallons of water per person in your household each year would be saved by taking this simple action.
2. Use a Rain Barrel for Outdoor Water Use
Though many outdoor venues may be closed, you can enjoy gardening and other outdoor activities this summer while utilizing rainwater. A rain barrel catches the water that runs from your gutters and recycles it. Reusing water that drips from your gutters also helps to prevent the spread of waste and toxins down into streams, drains, and (eventually) waterways.
3. Use Your Dishwasher Frequently
More time spent at home most likely means more dishes being washed. Wait until you can run a full load in your dishwasher, rather than hand washing your dishes after every meal. This will ensure you can enjoy your party and save gallons of water.
4. Turn on the Sprinklers in the Morning or the Evening
Set your sprinkler system to water your lawn at the same time every day. Earlier in the morning or later at night after the sun sets are both ideal times for watering your lawn — water evaporates quickly when the sun is at its peak height in the middle of the day.
5. Fix Any Leaks Coming from Faucets and Toilets
Leaks waste gallons of water that you may not even be aware of. Contacting a professional to do a maintenance call is a great way to ensure that all problems are looked at and will ensure that all of your utilities are working properly and are not wasting water.
If you want to check for leaks yourself, put a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank. If the color trickles down and winds up in the bowl, your tank is leaking, silently wasting up to 100 gallons of water a day. A quick solution to this is a rubber flapper.