How to Reduce your Water Consumption and Save Gallons

Water is one of the most precious resources in this world, yet millions of gallons are wasted every single day in the bathroom, kitchen and in the garden, leading to soaring water costs.

You can make a massive difference just by making small changes to your lifestyle.Here are some simple and cost-effective changes you can make right now to reduce your water consumption, lower your water bill and help protect the environment:

In Your Kitchen

1. Only boil as much water as you need in your kettle.This will save water as you won't always be emptying it out to fill it with fresh water.
2. Keep at least one filled jug of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until its cold enough for you.
3. Don't use so many ice-cubes in your drink, one is enough. Using too many is a waste. You won't need any if you keep your soft drinks in the fridge to chill.
4. Dropped that ice cube? Throw it in a plant, not the sink or the bin.
5. Defrost food in the fridge or microwave, not under running water.
6. Install an instant water heater in the kitchen. Don't waste water waiting for it to get warm.
7. Rinse fruits and veggies in a bowl or sink instead of under running water.
8. Use smaller pet bowls. Give your pet less water more often. Find how much they need.
9. Rinse dishes in half a sink full of soapy water then place in dishwasher. Use leftover water to wash the sink.
10. Washing-up liquid comes in more and more concentrated forms these days; no need to use more than a tiny drop for a full wash.
11. Soak pots and pans rather than holding them under running water while scraping.
12. Only ever use the dishwasher when it is full.
13. Never use the Rinse and Hold setting on your dishwasher. You can do this in the sink with only 5% of the water.
14. Stop that dripping tap. Save up to 140 gallons per week.
15. Use a front loading washing machine. If not possible then wash only full loads of clothes.
16. Recycle. Recycling an aluminium can requires only 3% of the water needed to produce one.
17. Forget about using the garbage disposal unit. Compost the waste, save water and keep your plants happy.
18. Install an aerator. They are cheap and easy to install and work by putting extra air bubbles into your water flow, reducing the amount of water used while still allowing high pressure.

In Your Bathroom

1. Plug the bathtub before you turn on the water. Adjust the temperature as it fills. Don't fill the bath any more than halfway.
2. Take showers instead of baths. On average, showers use 20 gallons versus the 50 gallons of a bath.
3. Install a low-pressure shower head. Some can reduce water consumption by up to 50%.
4. Take shorter showers. Spending 5 minutes a day less in there will save you about 1,000 gallons a year.
5. Turn off the water while you shampoo and condition. That's 50 gallons a week you'll be saving.
6. Shave with water already in the sink. Save up to 100 gallons a week.
7. Turn the tap off when you brush your teeth. You can save up to 18 litres each time.
8. Don't flush spiders down the drain, catch them with a piece of paper and a glass and put them outside.
9. When washing your hands, turn off the water. Save those gallons.
10. Use a low-capacity flush toilet. If you cannot install one, try placing a weighted 2 litre bottle in your toilet tank. You'll need to make sure that there are at least 3 gallons remaining in the tank so that your toilet will flush properly.
11. Put food colouring in the toilet tank. If colour is in the bowl in 30 minutes, you've got a leak!

In your Garden

1. Turn the hose off properly. A dripping nozzle wastes a lot of water.
2. Water lawns in the morning or late evening: less evaporation, happier grass.
3. Add mulch such as bark, cedar chips, peat moss or gravel to your plants. It's great at holding in the moisture and saves hundreds of gallons a month.
4. Weed regularly. They steal water intended for your plants. Don't let them get away with it!
5. Don't plant grass on a steep incline. More water washes away than actually gets to the grass.
6. Sweep the driveway or garden path instead of hosing it down. Save about 80 gallons of water.
7. Don't water the concrete. Make sure the sprinkler is hitting only the plants. Don't sprinkle when it's windy!
8. Cut your grass higher.
9. Changing the water in your fish bowl? Don't pour it down the sink, pour it on a plant. They'll love you for it.
10. Use porous materials for walkways. Keep the water in your yard.
11. Fountains and water features waste more water through evaporation than you might think.
12. Keep the use of running water toys to a minimum.
13. Wash your pets on the grass; you'll water your lawn and get Rover clean at the same time.
14. Mark the water level of your pool. It shouldn't evaporate more than a quarter inch a day. Use rubber or plastic sheeting to cover it.
15. Cover your spa with a plastic or rubber sheet. Prevent water escaping through evaporation.
16. If you have to wash your car at home, use a bucket and sponge instead of a running hose.
17. Some commercial car washes recycle their water and make more efficient use of water than you could; keep an eye out for them.

General Tips

1. Turn the thermostat down. Air conditioning and heating dehumidifies the air, burns more electricity (and thus water) and dries out indoor plants faster.
2. Change the filter in your air conditioning every month. Help keep that evaporator working efficiently.
3. Turn off water at the meter and note the reading. After an hour, see if it changed. If it did, call the plumber: you have a leak.
4. Know where the main shut-off valve is. If a pipe bursts, you'll be well prepared to save hundreds of gallons of water and more importantly, your house!

It All Adds Up

The price of a gallon of water is £00.00454, meaning you'll save a total of £4.54 per 1000 gallons saved.

This article was written by Sam Brown, Marketing Manager at TradePlumbing. Tradeplumbing.co.uk is a trading name of Clayton Horsnell LTD, a privately held company with headquarters in Colchester, UK, providing a wide variety of plumbing products starting with bathroom suites, baths, showers, towel rails, furniture, sinks, heating system, and radiators and finishing with taps and water treatment products.