Water Conservation Tips

An average home uses more than 200 gallons of water per day​

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* Clothes washer - 21.7% of water use; 56,000 gallons/year
o Operate only full loads and/or use correct volume settings
o Consider replacement - old washers use approximately 41 gallons per load, while new high-efficiency machines use only 23 gallons.

* Dishwasher - 1.4% of water use; 3600 gallons/year
o Wash full loads
o Consider replacement - reduce by 30-50% water usage per load

* Faucet - 16% of water use; 35,000 gallons/year
o Turn off the water running while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing
o Catch "warm-up" water and use for plants
o Consider installing low flow restrictors/aerators to faucets ($2-4)

* Irrigation systems - seasonally highest domestic use; up to 100,000 gallons/year or more
o Lawns need only 1 inch of water per week, and they don't need to be watered daily; overwatering causes 85% of turf problems
o Water at night, if possible, to reduce evapotranspiration
o Upgrade your sprinkler clock
o Install a rain shutoff device
o Collect rainwater with a rain bucket or cistern system with drip lines
o Convert turf to low water-use landscaping such as drought resistant grass, plants, shrubs and trees

* Showerhead - 16% of water use; 37,000 gallons/year
o Take shorter showers (typical shower lasts 8 minutes and uses 17 gallons; an efficient shower lasts 3 or 4 minutes and uses 7.5 gallons)

* Leaks 14% of water use; 30,000 gallons/year
o Check for and repair toilet leaks - will waste from 30 to 500 gallons of water per day
o Fix faucet leaks (usually a washer will work) - a gradual dripping faucet can leak up to 5 gallons of water per day
o Irrigation systems typically leak 20-40%

* Toilet - 27% of water use; 60,000 gallons/year
o Offset older toilets with a plastic jug of pebbles and water to minimize flushing
o Flush less frequently​

Source: virginia.gov