Water Saving Tips

Using Water Every Day

Do you know how much water you use every day? You'd be surprised! Before you can start saving water, you have to know how much you're using doing common, everyday activities. Each of us uses fifty gallons of water each day. Here's how:

Toilet - 19 gallons Bathing & hygiene - 15 gallons Laundry - 8 gallons Kitchen - 7 gallons Housekeeping - 1 gallon

Stop The Dripping!

A drop of water may not break your home budget, but pile them up one after another and you've got a serious leak - in your pipes and in your pocket! A hot water leak wastes not only water but the energy used to heat it! In this case, you're losing money two ways!

Toilet leaks are some of the worst. A leaky or running toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day. If you can't hear the water running, test your toilet by adding a couple of drops of food coloring to the water in the tank. If it shows up in the bowl, your toilet leaks.
With a leaking faucet or toilet, you're pouring money down the drain. Repair it!

Saving Water In The Bathroom

• If you remodel your bathroom, put in low use (1.6 gal/flush) toilets.
• Place a weighted plastic one-half gallon jug or a toilet dam in the tanks of conventional toilets to displace and save water with each flush.
• Install low-flow aerators and showerheads. They're cheap, easy to put in, save water and save energy.
• Don't run the faucet flow when you're brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Take showers instead of a bath.
• If your shower has a single-handle control or shutoff valve, turn off the water when you're soaping up or shampooing your hair.
• Replace leaking diverter valves (valves which divert water from the tub spout to the showerhead).

Saving Water In The Kitchen And Laundry

• Don't run your water for a cold drink; keep a container of water in the refrigerator.
• Stop up the sink for washing and rinsing dishes. Put a low-flow aerator on all faucets.
• Don't rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. You don't need to. It's a waste of water.
• Run the washing machine and dishwasher when they are fully loaded.
• Use the right water level or load size on the washing machine.
• When you buy a washing machine or dishwasher, think about water use and energy efficiency. Most manufacturers now give this information to consumers.

These tips were provided by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works.

Revised June 23, 2005