The Biggest Water Usage Culprit in your Home

We have all heard of the common ways to save water: turn the sink off while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and don’t run the dishwasher unless its full.  Many of us probably practice these regularly.  But, do you ever wonder what activity is actually wasting the most water in your home?  You may be surprised to learn that it is…

The Toilet.

According to the EPA, flushing the toilet wastes more water than any other household activities.  For the average American family, 24% of daily water usage is from flushing the toilet!

For many of us, cutting back on toilet flushing in our home is not possible or desirable.  However, you can invest in a low flow toilet that uses less water per flush.

If a new toilet is not in the cards for you right now, there are other ways to save water.  Showering is not far behind the toilet in regard to water usage.  20% of daily water usage is from showering.  In order to conserve water here, work on shortening up your showers or keep a bucket in the shower to catch all of the water that is wasted while it is heating up.  Then, use that water to water your plants outside.

Working hard to conserve water usage is important because it saves us money on our water bills.  However, it is also important on a bigger scale.  The EPA informs us that high amounts of water usage can lead to consequences such as, “Higher water prices to ensure continued access to a reliable and safe supply” and “Seasonal loss of recreational areas like lakes and rivers when the human demand for water conflicts with environmental needs.”

For more information about ways to save water, contact FLAME!