A Little Conservation Goes a Long Way

What is Water Efficiency?

Water efficiency is the smart use of our water resources through water-saving technologies and simple steps we can all take around the house. Using water efficiently will help ensure reliable water supplies today and for future generations.

Save Water, Save Money

The average household spends over $700 per year on its water and sewer bill. By making just a few simple changes to use water more efficiently, you could save about $200 per year. Also, when we use water more efficiently, we reduce the need for costly investments in water treatment and delivery systems.

Drops to Watts: Save Water, Save Energy

It takes a considerable amount of energy to deliver and treat the water you use every day. For example, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.

Heating water for bathing, shaving, cooking, and cleaning also requires a lot of energy. Homes with electric water heaters, for example, spend one-quarter of their electric bill just to heat water.

With climate change concerns, pervasive droughts, and high energy prices across the country, nearly everyone is looking for ways to conserve resources and cut costs. The good news is that by using a little "water sense" we can all save water, energy, and money.

The preceding information is a direct citation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management. Read more on the EPA website.

Here are three simple and effective ways you can make a difference:

1. Do full loads of laundry and dish washing.  Use cold water wash/ rinse for laundry (90% of the energy in doing laundry goes to heating water and only 10% to powering the machine).

2. Limit the length and temperature of showers (a family of 4 limiting shower time under 5 minutes can reduce 1,000 lb/ yr. CO2.

3. Turn down hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees or medium temperature setting.

Together, we can all make a difference!