For many areas in the US, water conservation is a real concern. Clean, usable water is a precious resource and many regions have limited supplies. Using simple water conservation techniques at home can help cut water usage by up to 50%, which benefits your local ecosystem and leads to lower utility bills.

For routine at-home water conservation

Check for leaks. A quarterly check of all pipes, plumbing and fixtures in your home to ensures you aren’t wasting water and money. 

An easy way to check your household water consumption is to read your water meter when you know that no water will be used. After a two-hour period, check it again. If the meter does not read exactly the same, then you have a leak.

A small drip from a worn-out water faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day, while a large leak can use hundreds of gallons. Toilet leaks can be tricky to find. 

Try adding a drop or two of food coloring to the toilet tank. If color appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, without flushing, the toilet has a leak. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy-to-install.

Watch what you flush. Your toilet shouldn’t be used as an ashtray or garbage disposal. Not only can items such as Q-Tips and cigarette buds cause clogs, but most toilets use between three to seven gallons of water per flush. Each flush adds up and increases water bill.

Use a tank-bank or float booster in the toilet tank can also cut down on unnecessary water usage. These items displace water in the tank ‒ meaning less water is required to fill the tank for each flush. 

An inexpensive DIY alternative to purchasing a float booster is to weigh a plastic bottle down with rocks or sand. Fill the bottle with water, close securely and place in the tank away from any mechanisms.

Invest in low-flow faucets & toilets. Inexpensive water-saving shower heads, faucet restrictors and toilets are easy for homeowners to install themselves. 

Many showerheads dispense up to10 gallons of water per minute, while low-flow shower heads use around 2.5 gallons per minute. That adds up to considerable savings on water consumption, especially in large households.

Conserving water is beneficial to your community and performing routine leak checks helps homeowners avoid major repairs. It also allows homeowners to save hundreds on water bills annually.

For any plumbing service in Las Vegas don’t hesitate to contact us for a consultation.

Don't forget to check out our list of home repairs related articles for more information!

• 5 Tips to Help Cut Down on High Water Bills... and Save Water 
• Control Water Around the Home to Combat Mosquitoes 
• Summer Solutions to Common Home & Business Plumbing Problems 
• Solving Water Safety Challenges with Whole House Filtration 
• Save Water When Making Household Upgrades