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Water Conservation – How To Save Water . . . And Money!

Water conservation has become an essential practice in all regions, especially in the drought ridden Atlanta area, where we are in our 4th year of what is considered an historic drought. Although the drought conditions seem to be slowly improving for the Atlanta area there are still watering restriction in place for many communities.  You can go to “Latest Rules Loosen some Watering Restrictions”, to see if your area is affected and what the restrictions are for you.  Individuals are cautioned, however, to take into consideration that rainfall is still below normal and even though restrictions have lessoned you should still be trying to conserve on water usage.  State Environmental Protection Division Director, Carol Couch, who makes the call on watering restrictions, said it will take a lot more rain to pull Lake Lanier out of the hole and she doesn’t expect that to happen this year.

Here are some interesting numbers for Atlantans to know:

• 3,000,00-plus: Atlantans are dependent on Lake Lanier for their water.
• 10: How many feet below full Lake Lanier is currently.
• 6: How many feet Lanier has risen since January 1.
• 120 billion: How many more gallons of water Lanier need to fill up again.
• 325 million:  Daily average amount of gallons metro Atlanta withdrew from Lanier and the Chattahoochee River last month.

Below are listed some ways you can conserve water at home and also some great products for your home that will help you conserve water and save money.

Here are just a few easy ways to conserve water:

• Laundry. Switch off the “extra rinse” cycle; save 8 gallons.
• Dish washing.  Don’t rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, or half fill a plastic tub to rinse; save 8 to 10 gallons.
• Laundry & Dish washing.  Run only when both are full and you can save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
• Tooth brushing.  Don’t run water while you brush, use a glass to rinse; save 4 gallons.
• Toilet.  Don’t use the toilet as a trashcan; save 3.6 gallons.  Installing a low-flush toilet can save 2 gallons of water every time you flush.
• Shaving.  Don’t run the water while you shave; save 4 gallons.
• Drinking water.  Keep a bottle in the fridge; don’t run the tap to get it cold; save 1 gallon.  This way every drop goes in your glass, not down the drain.
• Showers.  Take a “Navy” shower (turn the water off while you lather); save 8 gallons.  If you shorten your shower by a minute or two you can save up to 150 gallons per month. 
• Use a water-efficient showerhead.  They’re inexpensive and can save up to 750 gallons a month.
• Baths.  Shower instead of bathing; save 30 gallons (even with a long shower).  If you do take a bath, plug the drain and then adjust the temperature accordingly.  That way you are not wasting water down the drain while you wait for it to heat up.
• Garbage.  Use a compost pile instead of the garbage disposal; save 2 gallons.
• Food.  Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, not under running water; save 4 gallons.
• Monitor your water bill for unusually high use.  Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.  Fixing a toilet leak can save up to 1,000 gallons of water a month.
• Fix a leaky faucet.  This can save up to 140 gallons of water a week.

Here are some great water saving products:

• Install low-flush toilets.  You will only be using 1 to 2 gallons per flush instead of the usual 3 to 5 gallons.  Currently Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District is offering their customers an incentive to replace their older, inefficient toilets.  You can go to Residential Toilet Rebate Program to see if you qualify for this rebate and download the application needed to apply.  These rebates are for $50 or $100 depending upon which toilet is installed from the approved list.  Don’t forget to contact a plumber when you are ready to install.
• Buy an inexpensive tank bank or float booster.  If you aren’t in the market for a new toilet just yet try using a tank bank or float booster, a displacement device.  This may save 10 or more gallons per day, but be sure that at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.
• New ENERGY STAR® rated washer.  Replace old clothes washers with new ENERGY STAR® rated washers. They use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load.
• Tankless hot water system.  A tankless hot water system provides instant hot water with no waiting, therefore you are not running unnecessary water down the drain while you wait for it to heat up.  Tankless water heaters save you money by using less water and energy.  Contact a plumber for more information.
• Hot water circulation pump.  A hot water circulation pump is a continuous loop of water that travels through the water heater to ensure that hot water is always available.  This will keep you again from running unnecessary water down the drain while waiting for it to heat up. Hot water circulation pumps save you money by using less water and less energy.  Contact a plumber for more information.
• Faucets/Showerheads.  You can install water-saving showerheads or restrictors and fit household faucets with aerators. A showerhead designed with conservation in mind will flow at a rate of 2.5 or less gallons per minute, which works well in a kitchen. In a bathroom a 1 gallon per minute aerator will provide plenty of water to brush your teeth, wash your hands and fill a glass for drinking.  Contact a plumber for more information.
• Insulate hot water pipes for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for energy savings.