Water Conservation – Bathroom

There are two rooms in the home where water is used the most in the home.  The first is the bathroom followed by the laundry room.  Water conservation can easily be accommodated in these rooms with a little guidance and proper product purchasing.

The average number of gallons of water that a person consumes daily is 70 gallons.  Most of the water is personally used is in the bathroom.  There are a number of ways that a homeowner can choose to select to improve their bathroom water conservation.

Toilet

Between 28-40% of the household water is used by the toilet.  Reducing this percentage is the first step toward water conservation.

According to the Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992, all toilets designed and sold after January 1, 1994 are to use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.  Prior to the law, the conventional toilet used up to five gallons per flush.  This law was passed to not only improve bathroom water conservation, but also reduce the toilet tank size by more than half

Two types of toilets that are know for their water conservation are the dual flush and the air assisted toilets.  The dual flush toilet saves a significant amount of water by its design of different flushes for waste product.  The general rate of water used for dual flush toilets is 1.6 gallons for solid waste and .8 gallons for liquids.  The air assisted toilets use one half gallon per flush.

Leaky toilets are a hazard to your home and water conservation.  Try to identify if you toilet has a leak by placing food coloring in your toilet tank.  If the color shows up in the bowl without the toilet being flushed, you have a leak to repair.  A drip or leak can waste hundreds of gallons a day.

Shower

Showers are responsible for about 30% of home water use.  Prior to 1992, the standard water flow to a showerhead was 4.5 gallons per minute. The Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires showerheads manufactured in the United States to set maximum water flow at or below 2.5 gallons per minute when the pressure is 80 pounds per square inch. If you have a pre-1992 showerhead, you can save significant money by replacing it.   

Shortening the length of a shower or showering in place of a bath can also save money.  Filling up a bathtub can take two and a half times more water than is used in a 5 minute shower.

Some select showerheads now feature “pause” as a setting.  This setting allows you to turn off the water while you lather or shave.

Bathroom Sink

One way to save water while using the bathroom sink is to install a low-flow faucet aerator.  Some aerators can restrict water flow to less than 1 gallon per minute.

Do not let the water run continuously from you bathroom faucet while you brush your teeth, shave or wash you hands.  Only turn on the water when necessary.

Check and repair a faucet if it has a leak.  Repairing a leaky faucet can save as much as up to 140 gallons per week.

The rate of consumption for water-saving devices or products can vary significantly.  Please check your product packaging and instructions on the plumbing fixture you plan to purchase to determine the water efficiency.