Did you know that a three-person household can save 675 gallons of water a month by simply turning off the faucet when brushing teeth and shaving?
Making these kind of simple changes to your daily routine make a big difference. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District is sharing its top outdoor and indoor water-saving tips during Water Conservation Month.
Outdoor tips
- A garden hose without a shutoff nozzle can waste up to 530 gallons of water in an hour. Use a shutoff nozzle on your hose that can be adjusted down to a fine spray so that water flows only as needed. When finished, turn it off at the spigot instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
- Rain shutoff devices, which are already required by law on all automatic systems installed since 1991, will shut off your automatic sprinkler system if enough rain has fallen. These devices can save up to 30 percent or more over a timer-only system. Set this device to shut off your system when a half inch of rain has fallen.
- Check the operation of the rain shutoff device at least once per year and replace the unit if it is not operating correctly.
- If rain is predicted within 24 hours, don’t irrigate.
Indoor tips
- Based on a three-person household, you can save up to 870 gallons per month by replacing older toilets with new low-flow models.
- Save up to 690 gallons per month by limiting showers to five minutes and installing water-efficient showerheads. Showering is one of the top residential water uses in the United States, accounting for more than 1.2 trillion gallons of water each year. Approximately 17 percent of indoor water use is used for showering.
- Save up to 390 gallons per month by replacing your conventional clothes washer with a new water-efficient model. You can also save up to 175 gallons per month by only running your clothes washer and dishwasher when they are full.
- You can save up to 250 gallons of water per month by rinsing fruit and veggies in a bowl of water instead of under running water.
- You can save up to 200 gallons of water a day by fixing a leak inside your toilet.
- You can save up to 30 gallons of water a day by repairing a dripping faucet.
- Install instant water heaters in bathrooms and in the kitchen so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up.
Each year the state, water management districts and local governments recognize April as water conservation month because it is traditionally one of the driest months of the year and typically marks the start of the peak demand season for public water suppliers.
To learn more about water conservation and the drought, or to schedule a speaker, please visit the District’s web site at www.WaterMatters.org/drought/.