Easy Ways to Reduce Your Water Use

One of the most effective ways your family can be more green — and reduce your utility bills to boot — is by using water responsibly. Here are some tips from Amy Vickers, a leading water conservation expert and the author of the Handbook of Water Use and Conservation: Homes, Landscapes, Businesses, Industries, Farms (waterplowpress.com).

Water your lawn — not your sidewalk. In most cases, the soil will be completely saturated within 20 to 30 minutes, so if you have a programmatically-timed sprinkler, be sure to set it accordingly. You can also install a rain-sensor device (about $25 at home and garden centers), which will automatically shut off the sprinklers when it rains. Better yet, water by hand so that you can see exactly where the water is most needed, and get the kids to help so that it becomes a family together-time activity.

Be a greener gardener. Choose plants that are indigenous to your area and don’t require extra watering. When you re-seed the lawn, start introducing native and drought-adaptive grasses (ask your local garden center for recommendations). Reseeding your lawn is also a natural, non-chemical strategy for helping to reduce weed growth.

Fix leaks. The average home wastes about 9.5 gallons a day per person due to leaky toilets, faucets and other fixtures, according to a study sponsored by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving water quality and supply.

Install high-efficiency plumbing fixtures. Switching from the now-standard 2.5 gallons-per-minute (gpm) at 80 psi bathroom sink faucet to a less than 2.0 gpm model can cut the amount of water used by more than 20%. Also, make sure you're using a showerhead that uses no more than 2.5 gpm. For more tips and information, go to waterwiser.org, epa.gov/watersense or allianceforwaterefficiency.org.

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