When was the last time you worried about having enough water in your home? Fortunately, most of us know that when we turn on the tap, we’ll get the water we need for drinking, cooking, and bathing. But, water is a finite resource. And chances are, you use a lot more water than you think you do. In recognition of World Water Day, we’re sharing some important ways to reduce your water footprint (and save money) by decreasing your home water usage.

Why should you care about your water footprint?

While 71% of the earth is covered in water, less than 1% of it is available for human consumption. And as our earth’s population continues to grow, so does the pressure on our limited, available water supply. According to waterfootprint.org, this is exacerbated by pollution and seasonal and geographic differences in the amount of water available. The organization, which provides water footprint education, research, and management strategies, suggests that in many locations, more freshwater is being used than the earth’s natural limits can sustain.

How to reduce your water footprint:

Are you really using that much water? The USGS (United States Geological Survey) estimates that the average American uses roughly 80-100 gallons of water per day!  Below are some tips on how you can reduce your water footprint to help decrease the rising pressure on our earth’s water supply and lower your water bill.

1. Swap out Your Showerhead

Swap out your older shower head for a newer, low-flow one.  Older models use approximately 5 gallons of water per minute, versus 2.5 gallons per minute for a newer, water-saving shower head.

2. Change up Your Bathing Routine

• Take a shower instead of a bath. Filling up an average bathtub uses about 36 gallons of water.
• Turn off the tap. Don’t let your water run while you’re shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your face. When your tap is left on, roughly 1-2 gallons of water will run down the drain per minute.
• Take 5. If you can reduce your shower time from 15 to 5 minutes, you could save over 20 gallons of water every time you wash up!

3. Take Note of Your Toilet. 

If you need to replace your toilet, install the low-flow kind, which uses approximately 1.5 gallons per flush, versus 3-7 gallons with a traditional one. This could save thousands of gallons of water each year, and shave about $100 off your annual water bill.

4. Use Your Dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher, be sure to fill it up and use it. Hand-washing your dishes wastes a lot of water–using up to seven times as much water as a high efficiency dishwasher.

5. Fix Your Leaks

Take care of any faucet, shower head, or pipe leaks as soon as possible. According to energy.gov, a leak of one drip per second wastes over 1,600 gallons of water and can cost up to $35 annually.

6. Install a Water Softener

If you have hard water, you’re probably aware of the many problems it can cause in your home, from dingy laundry, to weak water pressure, to damage in your water-using appliances. Because hard water also decreases the effectiveness of shampoo, soaps, and detergents, you will need to use more water to lather up and remove the soapy film that remains after bathing and cleaning. Installing a water softening system will take care of this problem.

Home Water Treatment Systems in NH, MA

As a leading provider of water treatment systems in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, we know a thing or two about water. If you have any questions about your water or want to learn more about our hard water treatment systems, contact the professionals at Secondwind Water Systems.