Saving water around the
home is simple and smart.
 The average household
 spends as much as $500
 per year on its water and
 sewer bill but could save
 about $170 per year by
 retrofitting with water-
  efficient fixtures and
  incorporating water-
    saving practices.
Let WaterSense"
show you how
to  save water—
and your wallet.
     How much money you
     save will depend on the
     cost of water where you
live, but it makes sense that using
less water lowers your utility bill.
More importantly, using less water
preserves this limited resource for
generations to come.
EPA
Water Sense
                                                                                        Simple Steps
                                                                                                to
                                                                                        Save Water

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                                            Inside
                                                  the
                                            Home
                        By giving your bathroom a water efficiency makeover
                        with WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets, you could
                        save more than 11,000 gallons annually—and that's no
                        drop in the bucket.
Get Flush With Savings
•  Consider installing a WaterSense
  labeled toilet, which uses 20 percent
  less water while offering equal or
  superior performance. Compared to
  older, inefficient models, WaterSense
  labeled toilets could save a family of
  four more than $90
  annually on its water
  utility bill, and $2,000
  over the lifetime of the
  toilets.

•  Check for toilet leaks by adding food
  coloring to the tank. If the toilet is
  leaking, color will appear in the bowl
  within 15 minutes. (Make sure to flush
  as soon as the test is done, since food
  coloring can stain the tank.)

Accessorize Your Faucet
•  Installing a WaterSense labeled aerator
  is one of the most cost-effective ways to
  save water. Also consider replacing the
  entire faucet with a WaterSense labeled
  model. Either way, you can increase the
  faucet's efficiency by 30 percent without
  sacrificing performance.

•  Repair dripping faucets and showerheads. A
  drip rate of one drip per second can waste
  more than 3,000 gallons per year.

Clean Up With Savings
•  A full bathtub can  require up to 70 gallons
  of water, while taking a 5-minute shower
  uses only 10 to 25  gallons.

•  Turning off the tap while you brush your
  teeth can save 8 gallons per day.

Lighten Your Loads

•  Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes or
  lower the water settings for smaller loads.

•  Replace your old washing machine with a
  high-efficiency, ENERGY STAR8 labeled
  model, which uses up to 50 percent less
  water and electricity.
                                           The average single-family suburban home uses at least 30 percent of its water for
                                           outdoor purposes such as irrigation and as much as 70 percent in dry climates.
                                           Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water is wasted due
                                           to evaporation, wind, or overwatering.
Water When Needed
• Water your lawn or garden during the cool
  morning hours, as opposed to midday, to
  reduce evaporation.

• Look for sprinklers that produce droplets,
  not mist, or use soaker hoses or trickle irri-
  gation for trees and shrubs.

• Set sprinklers to water lawns and gardens
  only. Check that you're not watering the
  street or sidewalk.

• Try not to overwater your landscaping.
  Learn plants'water needs and water
  different types appropriately.

Grow Green Grass
• Don't overfertilize. You will increase the
  lawn's need for water.

• Raise your lawn mower blade to at least
  3 inches. Taller grass promotes deeper
  roots, shades the root system, and
  holds soil moisture better than a
  closely cropped lawn.

Garden With Care
•  Plant climate-appropriate species.
  Try plants that are native to where
  you live, which don't require as much
  water, and group plants together by
  water requirements.
•  Use mulch around trees and plants to
  help reduce evaporation and control
  water-stealing weeds.


  Outside
        Home

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