5 Ways to Conserve Water Around the Home

During the hot summer months, water use around the home increases dramatically with lawn watering, car washing, and other water-intensive activities. By using water more wisely and ensuring that your home's plumbing system is in good shape, you can help conserve water, while also saving on your water bill.

 1. Fix leaking faucets and pipes That small drip from a leaking faucet washer can waste as much as 20 gallons of water per day. Leaking outdoor faucets and pipes can waste hundreds of gallons. 

2. Don't use the toilet as garbage disposal Flushing paper waste like facial tissue and other items that could go into a wastebasket can save up to 7 gallons per flush. 

3. Repair leaking toilets To see if your toilets are leaking, put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes without flushing, have the toilet fixed.

4. Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators. These inexpensive devices are simple to install and will result in significant water savings with hardly any noticeable difference in water pressure.

5. Check for hidden leaks After you have repaired all detectible water leaks in faucets, toilets, show heads, etc., it's a good idea to check for hidden water leaks. Simply read your water meter then wait for a two-hour period during which no water is being used. If the water meter has changed, you have a leak.