Think Globally
Saving Water in the Kitchen and Bathroom
Some of our most important appliances use the most water. Here’s what you can do to help:
The Toilet
- Check for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. Color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes if there’s a leak.
- Check for worn out, corroded or bent parts.
- Consider purchasing LowFlow toilets that can reduce indoor water use by 20 percent.
- Install a toilet dam or a bottle in the tank to reduce water needed for each flushing.
- Avoid unnecessary flushing. Dispose of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash.
- Adjust or replace the flush handle if it frequently sticks in the flush position and lets water run constantly.
The Shower/Bath
- Replace your showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute.
- Take shorter showers.
- In the shower, decrease the flow to achieve a comfortable temperature instead of increasing the hot or cold water.
- For baths, close the drain before turning the faucet. To balance the initial burst of cold water add only hot water later.
- Turn off the tap while shaving, washing your face or brushing your teeth.
The Kitchen
- Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile for food waste instead.
- Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run for a cool glass of water.
- Use the refrigerator or a microwave instead of running water to thaw frozen foods.
- Consider an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so running water heats up quicker.
Washing Dishes
- For hand washing, fill one sink with soapy water and quickly rinse under a slow stream of water from the faucet. Use the dirty water to run your sink disposal if necessary.
- Fully load automatic dishwashers; they use the same amount of water no matter how big of a load.
- Look for water and energy saving options with new dishwashers.