Water Conservation Tips

Water is the essence of life yet it has the ability to destroy us all. We need to respect the water we have and conserve whenever possible. Did you know that 97% of the Earth’s water is Salt that leaves only 3% fresh water to drink and most of the water is frozen in the Arctic. The true reality is less than 1% of the Earth’s water is potable…do you really want to flush it down a toilet?

Outdoors

Water lawns early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation, and do not water lawns on windy days when water is likely to evaporate or blow away from its intended destination.

  • Don’t follow a fixed watering schedule. Water when the grass or plants show signs of needing it. To determine if a lawn needs to be watered, walk across the grass. If you leave footprints, it’s time to water.
  • Cover swimming pools to minimize the loss of water due to evaporation. Also install a more efficient water saving filter.
  • Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks or driveways.
  • Install efficient irrigation devices – ones that can be adjusted according to seasonal irrigation needs. Install moisture sensors in each irrigation zone (sunny, shady, etc.) to better determine irrigation needs.
  • Do not leave sprinklers or hoses on unattended; it can result in leaks and over watering.
  • Maintain a lawn height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches to help protect the roots from heat stress and reduce the loss of moisture to evaporation. Allowing the grass to grow slightly taller reduces water loss by providing more ground shade for the roots and by promoting water retention in the soil.
  • Watering in several short sessions rather than one long one, allows the lawn to better absorb water and helps reduce the risk of over watering.
  • Check sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the heads in good repair.
  • Make sure a sprinkler is placed so it only waters the lawn, not the pavement.
  • Avoid sprinklers that spray a fine mist, which increases evaporation.
  • Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water and use a nozzle to stop the flow of water from the hose between rinsing.
  • Consider xeriscape landscaping which takes into consideration how the yard will be used and how it can provide the greatest benefit with the least amount of maintenance. This includes growing plants that are indigenous to the area and appropriate maintenance to reduce water use.

Indoors

  • For homes built prior to 1994, install HET toilets, low flow toilets or a dual flush conversion kit.
  • Repair leaking toilets and faucets; a leaky toilet can waste up to 60 gallons of water each day, while leaking faucets waste up to 15 gallons. Using faucet aerators can also help conserve water.
  • Purchase a high-efficiency clothes washer. New front-loading machines eliminate the need for an agitator and use 40 percent less water. Always wash full loads and use shorter cycles whenever possible.
  • Don’t leave the water running while doing dishes. Running the water for 15 minutes can use 20 gallons, but filling the basin for the chore uses only five gallons.

At Select A Flush, we want to enable our consumers to make a difference by improving their current products. WE CAN’T FAST FORWARD THE FUTURE BUT WE CAN MAKE THE PAST BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE MEAN TIME. Imagine not only saving YOUR money but helping the environment effortlessly! Why would you even think about not participating along with millions of others who have changed the way they live and “Gone Green”!

How much water do I use?

Your Task Usage in Gallons
Shower, regular shower head – 5 min. 11
Bath, full tub 24
Toilet Flush, regular tank, Per Flush 3-5
Shaving, open tap – 10 min. 13
Brush Teeth, open tap – 10 min. 13
Dishwasher, standard cycle 10-15
Manual dish washing, open tap – 15 min. 20
Dish washing, full basin 5
Washing the car, open hose 100+
TOTAL GALLONS USED PER DAY 199-206
TOTAL GALLONS USER PER YEAR 72,635 – 75,190

By conserving how much water do I save?

Your Task Usage in Gallons
Shower, regular shower head – 5 min. 10
Bath, half tub 12
Toilet Flush, ultra low flow tank 1.6
Shaving, full basin 1
Brush Teeth, fill cup <1
Dishwasher, short cycle 8-13
Washing the car, bucket and hose with shutoff nozzle <50
TOTAL GALLONS USED PER DAY 58.1 – 88.6
TOTAL GALLONS USER PER YEAR 21,206 – 32,339