Water Conservation
in the Bathroom
Toilets: Facts and Tips:
- Toilets can account for almost 30% of all indoor
water use.
- Older toilets use as much as 20 gallons of water per person,
per day. Replacing an old toilet with a newer one can save an average
household from about 8,000 to 22,000 gallons of water in a single year.
- Installing an ultra low-flow toilet uses just 1.6 gallons
per flush. (Older toilets use 3.5-7 gallons per flush.)
- Approximately 20% of toilets leak. Check for leaks
by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the dye
shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, your toilet has a leak. Usually,
replacing the flapper will solve toilet leaks inexpensively.
- Placing one or two one-quart bottles filled with water in
the tank of an older toilet can save you as much as 1,000 gallons
of water per person, per year.
Showers and Faucets: Tips for Saving Water:
- Leaks in your sink or bathtub faucets can usually be
repaired easily and inexpensively by replacing the rubber O-ring
or washer inside the valve.
- Bathing ranks third highest for indoor water use and the second
highest for home energy use. Take a quick shower rather than a bath
and save about 20 gallons of water each time.
- If a one gallon bucket placed under the shower flow takes
less than 20 seconds to fill, replace your showerhead with a low-flow
one (less than 2.5 gallons/minute).
- Turn off the water when shaving or brushing your teeth and
you'll save an average of 5 gallons per person, per day.
Check for leaks in your pipes by turning all water sources
off and reading your water meter. Wait a half-hour or so and take
another reading from the meter. If the dial has moved, you have
a leak.
The Homeowners Handbook to Energy Efficiency contains
simple, practical energy-efficiency ideas.