The Truth about Water Conservation

We often treat our water supplies like they are an unlimited resource. Turing on your tap or faucet is something we do daily, from brushing our teeth to showering or washing the dishes. The typical family in the United States uses over 300 gallons of water daily in their homes. Over 900 billion gallons of water are squandered yearly through household leaks and lousy piping. That’s enough water to last 11 million residents an entire year! The truth is that most of the world’s population does not have ready access to clean, fresh water.

Even though most of the world’s surface is water, most of that water is saltwater. Humans or most land animals cannot consume natural saltwater without undergoing desalination. This process is expensive and not a solution for most economically challenged countries. Fortunately, most families in Utah have in-home plumbing and access to fresh water whenever needed. Our home state, however, is prone to droughts, so we must take proper steps to conserve water levels when we have unusually large snowfall during winter.

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There are three primary reasons that everyone should do their part to save water.

1. It saves you money on your household utilities. Most homeowners have to pay for the amount of water they use. Although this resource is less expensive than the electric bill, every little bit helps. Standard units like dishwashers use large amounts of water and energy so keeping that in mind is a one-two punch on lowering your bills.
2. The greater the freshwater use, the more likely there will be contamination. Too much water entering our sewers or septic systems can cause groundwater seepage. This means dirty, contaminated water seeps in and around our sewer systems and pipes.
3. Using water wisely allows cities and municipalities to better plan for water usage. Future generations will need more usable water supplies if things get better enough. This puts a strain on economics and causes the city where they have to restrict the use or development of creative solutions.

Tips for Conserving Water

There are easy steps that can be taken to help your household and, by extension, your community. Below are some things that you and your family can do starting now.

Make sure your appliances are full – You only run your dishwasher or laundry machine when it is full makes a big difference. Doing this can save hundreds of gallons of water and reduce your energy use. It will also extend the lifespan of your machines because they are not being used as frequently.

Shorten showers – If you can shorten your shower time by 5-10 minutes, you save hundreds of gallons of water each month. The same tactic can be used when watering your lawns and flowers. Use the smallest amount of water necessary to promote growth. Make sure to turn off your sprinklers when it rains outside so water does not get wasted when nature provides it.

Replace old toilets – Older models typically use 5-6 gallons with each flush. Modern and efficient models average only 1.6 gallons per flush. We are not saying you should replace your toilets for this one reason alone. However, if your toilet is leaking, this is a benefit to push for a replacement rather than a repair. Call Plumbing Utah Heating & Air for a free estimate at (801) 601-1298.

Speak with a Plumbing Company

Another great way to save water is to inspect your home for water leaks. A leak that goes unnoticed can waste thousands of gallons a year. Air, sewer, gas, or water leaks can be dangerous and damage your home. If you believe you have a leak contact our Salt Lake City leak location specialists to pinpoint the leak and repair it.