What are the Biggest Water Wasters?

I want to conserve on water usage in my home – what are the biggest water wasters?

- Patty in Prescott

Patty, the more you know about water, the better you can plan to save it. Did you know that when you run water n the sink, shower or tub and wait for it to warm up so you can use it, you waste between 8,000 and 20,000 gallons of water a year. Solution: Invest in a hot water re-circ pump that can produce hot water on demand. That means it is hot the minute you turn it on. No more waiting and no more wasting water and $$$$$$. Toilets use more water than any other appliance in the home. In fact, toilets account for about 30 percent of a family’s water use. If you have a new home, your toilet is probably a water-efficient model and uses no more than 1/6 gallons of water per flush which federal law requires in all new homes. The newest versions use only 1.28 gallons per flush. If your toilets are old, consider replacing them with high-efficiency models. Your will be able to recoup your investment in no time at all. A $2 aerator installed on your sink faucet can significantly reduce the flow of water. New showerheads use no more than 2.5 gallons of water. If you have an old shower head, consider replacing it with a low-flow model. Check leaky faucets and trickling toilets. Sometimes it is as easy as replacing a washer or a toilet flap. As we know water is a precious commodity in our area and we should all do our part to conserve and save.