Leaks Leaks are often silent, allowing a loss of water to go undetected for long periods of time. Some toilets may produce a running water sound that is easy to hear. Some leaks are visible as a small trickle running from the rim to the water in the bowl. The average leaky toilet can waste [...]

Leaks Water losses caused by dripping faucets can range from several gallons to hundreds of gallons of water per day. Faucets left in the open running position waste from several hundred to several thousand gallons of water per day. Check faucets regularly for leaks at the faucet head and seepage at the base and its [...]

Low-volume showerheads By timing your shower to less than five minutes and installing low-flow showerheads, you can save water. The older the showerhead, the more water it uses. New showerheads deliver 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Older fixtures can deliver as high as eight gallons per minute. Pressures have been adjusted to the [...]

Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only one-third full. The initial burst of cold water will be warmed by the hot water as the tub fills. In the shower, turn the water on to get wet, turn off to lather up, then [...]

Several conservation practices can reduce the amount of water used when washing clothes: For washers with variable settings for water volume, select the minimum amount required per load. If load size cannot be set, operate the washer with full loads only. Use the shortest wash cycle for lightly soiled loads. Normal and permanent press wash [...]

Operate the dishwasher only when you have a full load. When purchasing a dishwasher, consider a water-efficient model. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water and fill the rinsing sink to one-third or one-half full. Avoid letting the water run continuously in the rinsing sink. The kitchen sink disposals [...]