Saving Water: How to Reduce Your Water Consumption in Asheville
The current estimate for water use in the U.S. today is about 80 to 100 gallons of water daily.
Daily.
If you have a household of four people, that’s 400 gallons of water used each day! 2800 gallons per week. 12,000 per month. In areas affected by drought, like California or our neighboring state of Georgia, municipalities often ask homeowners to conserve water by limiting their use for watering the lawn or turning the water off when brushing their teeth. But do these saving water changes really work? When we learn about the contaminated water in places as close to home as Flint Michigan, we realize that we need to avoid taking fresh water for granted. To be a good steward of the environment, we must consider our impact not only in recycling or green spaces but also in the amount of water we use personally. Here are some ways you can conserve water starting this spring.
Check Your Plumbing for Hidden Leaks
The industry standards have changed, and changed again, when it comes to plumbing. And many of the homes in Asheville were built in past decades where the standard was galvanized pipes. Their lifespan may have been reached, and you may have leaks in your walls that you can’t even see.
Before it becomes a major problem, have a professional come in and take a look. They can replace any troublesome plumbing. Copper and pex are the two most popular choices of material, and both have their pros and cons. Talk to an expert to see what’s best for your home. Let them know you are interested in saving water.
Reuse Water
Even if we try to turn off the faucet while brushing our teeth, there are plenty of times we run water without thinking about it. Maybe you’re waiting for the tap to warm up before you wash dishes or run a bath.
What if you were to save water and reuse water on your garden or lawn? As long as you don’t use harsh chemicals when cleaning, you can even use your dish water or bath water for other uses. It may sound extreme, but it will help you conserve water and use it more effectively.
Invest in High Efficiency Appliances
There are also some big scale changes you can make in your home when it comes to saving water. The most common today include replacing your old appliances with high efficiency models. Washing machines in the past used extraordinary amounts of water, but that’s changed.
You can also get high efficiency dishwashers to help save water in your house. And you can apply this strategy with your plumbing as well by installing a more efficient shower head or a low-flow toilet.
Take a Shorter Shower
I know, this one sounds super reductive, but it really does work. It’s easy to lose track of time or spend your shower doing your best thinking, but that doesn’t help your efforts in saving water. Instead of thinking in the shower, go for a walk or run to get your mind working harder. Then take a quick shower to cool off.
The current industry estimates suggest that an average shower uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute, which can mean 20 gallons of water for an average shower. Reducing your shower time by just 3 minutes can make a pretty big impact.
Collect Rainwater
You’ve probably seen the rain barrels around Asheville. People throughout our neighborhoods are collecting rainwater to use for a variety of things, especially landscaping and gardening. Collecting rainwater is easy and absolutely free. Why not take advantage of this simple solution for keeping your yard or garden fresh and healthy?
To learn more about saving water, contact us today.
