Bathroom Tips

Save Water in the Bathroom

     
Flushing money down the drain
  • Install a low-flow shower head that limits the flow from the shower to less than three gallons per minute. This is the single most effective conservation step that can be taken inside the home.
  • Take short showers and install a cutoff valve, or turn the water off while washing and back on again only to rinse.
  • Take a shower instead of a bath. Showers use less water.
  • If a shower is not available, reduce the level of the water being used in the bathtub by one or two inches.
  • When building a new home or remodeling a bathroom, install a new low-volume flush toilet that uses only 1.6 gallons per flush.
  • Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank, but do not flush the toilet. If the color appears in the bowl in a few minutes, the toilet has a silent leak that needs to be repaired.
  • Use a toilet tank displacement device such as a toilet dam or bag, or a plastic bottle filled with stones or water and recapped. Placed in the tank, these devices will reduce the volume of water in the tank while still providing enough for flushing. Using a brick is not recommended since they eventually crumble and could damage the working mechanism. Displacement devices are not recommended with low-volume flush toilets.
  • Never use the toilet as a trash can for cigarette butts, cleansing tissues or other trash. This not only wastes water but also places an unnecessary load on the sewage treatment plant or septic tank.
  • Do not use hot water when cold will do.
  • When brushing teeth, turn the water off until it is time to rinse.
  • Do not let the water run when washing hands. Water should be turned off while washing/scrubbing, and turned on again to rinse.
  • When shaving, fill the sink with hot water instead of letting it run.
  • Install faucet aerators to reduce water consumption