Five easy ways to save on water
- Turn it off! - Don't let the water run when you are brushing your teeth, soaping your dishes, washing your hands, or shaving. The average faucet runs at 2 gallons a minute. If youare brushing morning and night, not turning the water off can waste up to 8 gallons of water a day.
- Take short showers - Taking a ten minute shower about 25 gallons of water if you have a low flow shower head. While showering uses less water than taking a bath, it is only more efficient if they are short.
- Fix your leaks- Check your faucets and your toilets for any leaks. The EPA notes that,
Approximately 5 to 10 % of American homes have water leaks that drip away 90 gallons a day or more! - Use a toilet displacement device - Try using those empty plastic juice jugs. Just fill them with water and put them in your toilet tank. This trick will cut down on the amount of water used in every flush.
- Install faucet aerators (get them for free!) - These are easy to install and can save you from 1 to 2 gallons per minute at a noraml pressure, according to Path.net. While these small devices reduce the amount of water used, they also often make the flow more effective and forceful. So Cal Gas offers a free Energy and Water Saving kit that comes with three aerators and a shower head!
Other ways to save -- tips and rebates for water:
- Do full loads of laundry only!
- Install a new faucet - The average household spends as much as $500 per year on their water and sewer bill and can save about $170 per year by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances.
- Install a new showerhead - A new showerhead will save energy — up to $145 each year on electricity — beating out both the bath and an old-fashioned showerhead.
- So Cal Gas offers instant rebates, up $35 each, for energy efficient clothes washers, dishwashers, and water tanks!