Water Conservation

Residential Water Usage
The average American family of four uses approximately 255 gallons of water a day inside the home. Here are some of the ways that water is utilized in a household.

Shower:                               5-10 gallons a minute

Bathroom Sink:                 5-10 gallons a minute

Toilet:                                   3-7 gallons a flush

Dishwasher:                       5-25 gallons a load

Kitchen Sink:                      4-5 gallons a minute

Washing Machine:           35 gallons a load

Installing water-saving appliances, shower heads, toilet tanks and faucets can reduce these values and help you conserve water.

Leaks
Dripping faucets and whistling or hissing toilets waste water, even when no one is using them. Toilets can also have “silent” leaks, which can be difficult to detect. If you suspect a toilet leak, try investigating using the following steps:

1. Carefully take off the top of the toilet tank.
2. Put 12 drops of red food coloring into the tank.
3. Wait 15 minutes. If any red dye appears in the toilet bowl, water is leaking from the tank.