Green Goes Simple: The Green Scoop

That’s a Lot of Water!

By Rachel Bertsche for Green Goes Simple

You’ve probably given some thought to your carbon footprint, but what about your water footprint? According to the EPA, the average family of four uses 400 gallons of water per day. That’s the equivalent of using more than an entire swimming pool’s worth of water every two months!

Wondering where those 100 gallons per person come from? Consider this: A bathroom faucet runs at about 2 gallons of water per minute. The shower uses about 4 gallons per minute. And a single toilet flush can use as much as 7 gallons.

“That 400 gallons is just direct water use,” says Kai Olson-Sawyer, a water research and policy analyst who runs the online water conservation project H2O Conserve. “It doesn’t even account for our indirect, or virtual, water use, like the water used by the production of food, electricity and more.”

Curious how your water intake stacks up against the average American? Plug your info into H2O Conserve’s Water Footprint Calculator, and then make these easy changes that will help you save some water — and some money on your next water bill.

1. Fix all leaks, especially in the toilet. “Leaks are huge water wasters,” says Olson-Sawyer. “If you notice any drips, take care of them immediately.” Flushing the toilet is, on average, the largest use of household water, and a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per day. Olson-Sawyer recommends looking into a water audit for your home, which is when a professional comes into your home to identify sources of leaks and water waste. “You might spend a little bit of money to shore up your plumbing, but you’ll stop leaks that will cost you in the long run,” he says.

2. Turn off the water when you aren’t using it. It sounds simple and obvious, but letting the water run while you brush your teeth, shave or wash dishes is a common mistake. “It speaks to the general mentality that we have an unlimited supply of water,” says Olson-Sawyer. “But it’s about being conscious of your actions and your water use.” Turning off the faucet while shaving or brushing your teeth can save more than 200 gallons of water per month!

3. Make your water do double duty. If you look for them, you can find a number of ways to make your water work harder for you. “When you’re waiting for the shower to heat up, put a bucket underneath the showerhead,” suggests Olson-Sawyer. “Collect that water to use for the plants around the house. It’s a great two-for-one.” You can also try washing your pet on the lawn, which needs watering anyway. You’ll get a great bang for your buck.

4. Fill up your dishwasher or laundry machine before running it. “People tend to throw a shirt or two in the laundry and not think about it; the same goes for people who don’t like to wash dishes,” says Olson-Sawyer. “But obviously, the fuller you load the machines, the more efficient your water use will be.” Still, he points out that running the dishwasher — even if it’s only half full — is always a more conservative use of water than washing the dishes by hand.

5. Water your plants when temperatures are cooler. Do your gardening in the morning or in the evening instead of in the midday sun. “Especially during the summer, when you’re more likely to be gardening, you’re going to lose a hefty percentage of water to evaporation. It makes the best sense to do the work when temperatures are lower,” says Olson-Sawyer.

6. Invest in water-friendly appliances. When you can, use low-flow water fixtures (including toilets) and put aerators on your sinks. Both of these features use less water but don’t affect water pressure. “Make these changes as toilets or faucets wear out,” says Olson-Sawyer. “You don’t have to go crazy replacing them all, but when you are renovating or switching things out, keep it in mind.” Look for fixtures with the EPA WaterSense label, which means they are at least 20 percent more water-efficient than average products in that category.

Rachel Bertsche is a Web producer, blogger and journalist who lives in Chicago. She’s written for O, The Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, Every Day With Rachael Ray, Outside and Fitness. Her first book, MWF Seeking BFF, will be out next year.

Green Goes Simple: Conservation at Home

Water Wisdom: How to Conserve Water Every Day

By Cynthia Ramnarace for Green Goes Simple

If there is a sound that immediately drives me insane, it’s that of a running tap. And because you have to tell kids the same thing 5,000 times before they get it — “You don’t need the water on when you brush your teeth!” — I hear a lot of water waste as I go through my day.

It drives me nuts not only because it’s money down the drain, but also because water is such a precious resource. I was fortunate enough to see this firsthand during a trip to Kenya several years ago. When you’re living in a drought-prone region and the only water you have comes from collected rain water, conservation is how you survive.

I returned from Africa a water-use zealot, but that was a long time ago. My commitment to the cause has waned over the years. I realized telling my kids not to waste water wasn’t enough: I had to lead by example. So I did some research and came up with some easy water-saving solutions that any parent can easily use in their own homes.

In the Kitchen

· When you wash dishes by hand, collect the dirty water in a plastic container. Then use it to water your houseplants. “Food products in the water enrich the soil and nourish plants,” says landscape architect Shelley Sparks. “They have never looked better.”

· Switch to a self-foaming dish soap, which will allow you to wash more dishes with less water.

· Use water left in drinking glasses to give your houseplants a drink. Either pour them directly from the cup into the plant, or put watering cans in convenient places so you can fill them with each unfinished cup. “Throwing away water that remains in a drinking glass is really a waste, especially when it can be used to water houseplants or plants in the garden,” says Kimberly Button, a green-living consultant.

In the Bathroom

· Check your toilet for leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the tank. If after 15 minutes your toilet bowl water takes on a new hue, you can be pretty sure you have a leak, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Most water loss can be easily stopped by replacing a worn-out toilet flapper (the rubber valve that flops up and down each time you flush).

· Filling the bathtub uses about 70 gallons of water! Encourage everyone in your family, kids included, to take showers. You’ll save 45 to 60 gallons per wash — not to mention serious money.

· When it’s time to get a new toilet, upgrade to a dual-flush version, which lets you choose a light flush or a heavier flush. The light-usage option uses less than a gallon of water with each use. For times when the toilet needs to work a bit harder, the heavier 1.6-gallon flush will do the trick.

· Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, which add air to the stream, automatically using less water without sacrificing a bit of performance. A family of four that makes these changes will save about 4,500 gallons of water per year, according to the EPA.

In the Garden

· “Install a rain barrel on your downspout to collect water,” suggests Christian Rogers, a landscape architect with Blackmon Rogers Architects. You can easily use the rainwater, instead of your garden hose, to water your plants.

· Kids love to water plants! But remind them that their green buddies need just a sip, not a deluge.

· If you’re thinking of adding new plants to your landscape, consider ones that don’t need much water to thrive. Sparks recommends planting ivy geraniums, bottle brush, lavender, yarrow and wild lilac.

Cynthia Ramnarace is a freelance writer in Queens, N.Y. She is a regular contributor to iVillage.com and AARP Bulletin. Her work also appears frequently in American Baby and Kiwi magazines.