24 Ways To Lower Your Water Usage

There is a long list of great reasons to live in a desert setting. Such as warmer weather and less humidity. However, with those amazing benefits also comes some downfalls to choosing to live in a desert setting. One of the major disadvantages is the small amount of rainfall throughout the year. In turn, making water a scarce commodity and causes a real need to lower your water usage.

Today we’re going over some of the ways you can help lower your water usage throughout the day and keep that water bill down. Especially during the hotter summer months when water is harder to come by.

The Kitchen

1) Choose the dishwasher over hand washing

Dishwashers are designed to be most efficient while using the least amount of water.

2) Run full loads in the dishwasher

While it is designed to be most efficient per load, making sure you have a full load will reduce your water usage waste

3) Double-dip the dishes

If you don’t have a dishwasher or you have to wash dishes by hand, fill up one sink with soapy water and one with clean for rinsing. If you only have one sink, save all the rinsing until the end

4) Use the garbage disposal less

Putting things down your disposal uses extra water. Instead of rinsing off food into the disposal, scrape it off into the trash

5) Don’t dump things down the sink

Even if you don’t have a garbage disposal, don’t dump things like medicines, paints, or other pollutants down the drain. Not only does it take more water to get it down, but it also pollutes the water system and makes it harder to clean

6) Turn off the tap

When washing fruits and vegetables, fill up a bowl of water rather than letting the faucet run

7) Have a bottle of water in the fridge

Rather than having to wait for the water on tap to get cold each time, keep a bottle in the fridge

8) Use every drop

Save the water you use to rinse fruits and vegetables for other uses. Save the water you use to cook the pasta and potatoes in. Even save the rinse water from the dishes to clean other dishes later

The Bathroom

9) Turn off the tap

While brushing your teeth, washing your hands, washing your face, and shaving are perfect times to turn off the water

10) Switch to water-saving toilets

A regular toilet uses 5 or more gallons of water per flush. Switching to a low-flow toilet brings you down to 2.5 gallons per flush

11) Put a plastic bottle in your toilet tank

If switching toilets isn’t an option, try putting a bottle of water in the tank, held down with sand or rocks, and filled with water. Make sure to put it on the opposite side of the tank from the mechanical parts

12) Don’t throw trash in the toilet

Don’t use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Not only will you be using extra water per flush, but there’s also a chance of you clogging the pipes

13) Switch to a water-saving showerhead

When showering, you can expect to use 5 to 10 gallons of water per minute in the shower. Switching to a low-flow showerhead will lower that number to 2.5 gallons per minute

14) Take a shorter shower

When showering, limit the time to five minutes or less. Just enough time to wash and rinse off.

15) Take a bath

Filling the tub partially up will still use less water than taking a shower. If possible opt for taking a bath

16) Bring a bucket into the shower

Some of the biggest water waste comes from waiting for the water to heat. By putting a bucket under the faucet, you can collect that water and use it in other parts of the house. Like watering plants or flushing the toilet with the water

17) Switch to a water-saving faucet

Much like the showerhead, switching will help lower the excess waste of water. But will still have the pressure needed to your hands and face

The Laundry

18) Use a high-efficiency washer

Choosing a high-efficiency washer will overall use less water. If possible, opt for a front loader as those use less than a top loader

19) Only wash when necessary

There’s no reason to wash clothing after every use. Wait until they are actually dirty before running them through the wash

20) Full loads only

When running a load of laundry, be sure to get a full load in. This will save on the amount of water being wasted per cycle

Overall

21) Fix household leaks

Check your faucets, toilets, showers, and pipes. One day of leaking water can waste up to 20 gallons of water

22) Check for hidden leaks

Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes during that time you have a leak in your home

23) Use less water in the garden

Only water grass when needed and don’t overwater outdoor plants. And when picking plants for your landscape, choose those that need less water overall to survive

24) Hand water outdoor plants

By water the outdoor plants by hand, you are able to better control where the water is going as well as how much is being used

While this is in no way a complete list of all the things you can do to lower your water usage, it’s a great start. Let us know in the comments which ones you’ve implemented into your life and how it’s going.

If you are looking for a new apartment in the Las Vegas area, head on over to our site. And while you’re checking out that, be sure to read up on our post about neighborhoods throughout the city.

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