Water Conservation

With abundant rainfall in Washington, it can be difficult to understand the need to conserve water. However, population growth and the escalating cost of producing water and maintaining its quality dictate that we use water wisely. The average Ridgefield Residence uses about 200 gallons of water each day!

Some of that water may be going down the pipe needlessly. In the United States, the average toilet uses 5 to 7 gallons of water per flush, and the average shower as much as 5 gallons per minute. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day.

Water Conservation Tips

You can make simple changes around your home that save hundreds of gallons of water a week, which may represent significant financial savings in your utility bills. To get started, here are some everyday and long-term water conservation tips.

Indoors
Outdoors

Indoor Water Conservation Tips

Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. Each flush wastes water.
Check toilets and faucets for leaks and fix any problems immediately. A leaky faucet, dripping once per second, wastes six gallons of water a day.
Run your dishwasher only when it’s full.
Wash only full loads of laundry or use the proper water level setting for your load size.
Don’t leave the water running when brushing your teeth or shaving. With the tap running at full force, shaving takes 20 gallons of water, teeth-brushing takes 10.
Take shorter showers or use less water in your bath. A full bathtub requires about 36 gallons of water. A five-minute shower using a water-conserving showerhead will use just 15 to 25 gallons.
Consider installing water-efficient toilets, faucets and showerheads as a water-saving investment. When buying new water-using appliances, purchase one with water conservation features.
Use the sink garbage disposal sparingly. Better yet, compost your vegetable waste.

Water Conservation