Conserving Water at Home

In honor of Roseland’s chapter on water and sewage, I decided to dedicate this blog post to many of the water conservation techniques mentioned in the chapter.  To make the blog manageable, I will cover only those techniques mentioned that could be installed at a reasonable cost by each and every one of us at some point in our lives.  

Faucet aerators:  An aerator is located at the tip of a faucet and spreads the stream of water into many droplets.  Without the aerator more water is used because one big stream of water comes from the faucet.  A rated flow is imprinted on the side of a faucet.  If the rating is greater than 2.75 gpm (gallons per minute) there has not been an aerator and you should install one.  The faucet is usually threaded and this allows for installation of the aerator.
Approximate Cost: $5-$10

picture:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Faucet2.JPG

High efficiency shower heads:  Combined with faucet aerators, this is one of the most cost effective water saving changes you can do to you home.  Both devices can reduce your home water consumption 50% and your energy cost of heating water as much as 50%.  They either draw in air or have it forced into the water stream using compressed air.  This pressurized air-water mixture creates a high velocity spray that makes it appear that more water is coming out then there actually is.   To determine if your shower head is low flow, position a 2 qt. saucepan on the floor of the slower in the middle of the shower stream.  When the shower is on full count how many seconds it takes to fill the pan.  You need a low-flow shower head if it takes less than 12 seconds.  A low-flow shower head is one that has a flow of 2.5 gpm or less. 
Approximate Cost:  $8-$50

picture:  http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/green-products/high-efficiency-showerhead.aspx

Ultra-low flow toilets (ULFTs):  Over a third of the water in most US homes is used as a result of the toilet.  Installing a ULFT can save thousands of gallons of water each year.  They use only half the amount of water, averaging about 1.6 gallons per flush instead of the traditional 3.5 gallons per flush. It is also important to make sure your existing toilet does not leak.  A leading toilet can waste up to 18,000 gallons of water in one year.
Approximate Cost:  $100-$400

Picture: http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/publications/ulftoilets.pdf

Dual Flush Toilets:  Though they were not mentioned in Roseland, dual flush toilets also conserve water.  Dual flush toilets handle solid and liquid waste differently based on your choice of flush.  Instead of the concept “when it’s yellow it’s mellow, and when it’s brown flush it down,” these toilets give the user the option to use more water when necessary.  Typically, two buttons are used to flush- one for low flow of water and one for high.
Approximate Cost:  $80-$2,000

picture: http://media.photobucket.com/image/dual%20flush%20toilets/ITechDiary/perfect_flush_1.jpg

Hose nozzles:  To be honest, hose nozzles were definitely not something I immediately thought of when analyzing water conservation, but it makes sense.  Instead of having your garden hose spray water immediately when you turn on the spicket, hose nozzles allow you to control the flow reducing water waste and encouraging efficiency.   

Approximate Cost:  $2-$15

Moisture testers:  These devices are used to measure the relative moisture of your soils so you accurately decide where and when you need to apply supplemental water.  They help a homeowner begin to understand how fast it takes their soil to absorb water and to dry out.  Moisture testers can also be used as a part of a lawn sprinkler system and ensures the lawn is only watered when it is actually necessary.
Approximate Cost:  $5-$50

Rain Barrels:  Roseland does not mention this one, but I believe it too is something that many people are able to install at a reasonable cost.  The main idea behind a rain barrel is to store water for use during a dry day.  They are typically connected to the downspout of your home and collect rainwater that would run off your roof and into the nearby storm drains.  One inch of rain falling onto one hundred square feet (10’x10’) yields 60 gallons of water!  Bloomington has developed a document to teach homeowners how to build your own rain barrel           
Approximate Cost:  $25-$250

picture:  http://www.lid-stormwater.net/images/rainbarrel9.gif

Though this is only the tip of the iceberg, I thought it would be beneficial to share this information.  The list is definitely not all-inclusive, and I left out the larger-scale changes such as xeriscaping, installation of pervious pavement, development of rain gardens, etc.  However, it should give each of us a “to do” list for conserving water at our own homes. 

Also, if you are ever in the Chicago area, it is worth checking this place out:  The Chicago Center for Green Technology’s Green Building Resource Center.