FOR SEA Institute of Marine Science K-12 marine science curriculum and teacher training

Bathroom


   What
you can do to get started….

1.
To discover whether your system has leaks, check your water
meter while no water is being used. Your water meter can usually
be found in a covered concrete or plastic box in front of your
residence near the curb. If the dial moves, you have a leak.
At the water pressure found in most household plumbing systems,
the leak from a 1/32″ opening in a faucet or pipe can waste
up to 6,000 gallons of water per month. A steady drip wastes
20 gallons per day.

2.
Install low-flow faucet aerators on all of your faucets. Your
water now will seem stronger, but you’ll actually be saving water
while reducing flow as much as 50%.

 

3.
Check toilets for leaks by adding food coloring to the toilet
tank. If color appears in the bowl, without flushing, there
is a leak that requires immediate attention. A leaking toilet
can waste 200 gallons of water a day without making a sound.

4.
Flush only when necessary. Avoid using the toilet as a wastebasket,
each flush uses about 6 gallons of water. If remodeling
or building, buy water-saver toilets, the best of which
use only 1 1/2 gallons of water per flush.

5.
Place one or two half-gallon plastic bottles in your toilet
tank to reduce water used for each flush.
In
the Bathroom…

6.
Think before you bathe. A shower or a bath? Only the shortest
shower saves more water than a partially-filled tub. A full
tub, however, can use 30-50 gallons of water – more than
a short shower. Consider bathing small children together.

7.
Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. They
are inexpensive and reduce flow by at least 25%. Shower
heads with an on-off valve are also available, allowing
the water flow to be stopped and restarted without having
to readjust the temperature.

8.
Don’t let the water run in the sink while shaving, brushing
your teeth, or lathering your face and hands.