Across the world, nations struggle to improve air quality, reduce their use of fossil fuels, and provide clean drinking water for their citizens. There’s a lot of work that we need to do to meet these goals, but we can take steps to improve the environment right here at home.
One of the easiest ways that you can help the planet is by conserving water. When you use less water, you reduce the energy consumed by your local wastewater treatment plant, thereby reducing pollution and improving air quality. Who knew that taking a shorter shower could have such a significant impact?
Conserving water is easy and penny wise. We’ll share some tips to help you use less water and save more money, all while saving the planet.
Install a Low Flushing Toilet
Modern toilets use less water than ever before, but not all of them are as efficient as they could be. A low flushing toilet uses a mere 1.6 gallons of water with every flush.
Now, we know what you’re thinking: low flushing toilets don’t work well. You have to flush them more than once, which uses more water than my old toilet. Unfortunately, that used to be true, but newer models are much improved.
Bathroom plumbing takes advantage of water under pressure and gravity to move waste out of your home and down your pipes to your local wastewater treatment plant. The initial low flushing toilets used less water, but they didn’t really make any other design changes. With less water but the same old design, there wasn’t enough pressure to move the waste down the line.
Newer models have smarter designs like larger flush valves (the opening where the water leaves the tank to go to the bowl) that help keep water pressure and flow high enough to wash away waste. If you’ve been holding off on upgrading your toilet, your wait is over.
Upgrade to Water Efficient Shower Fixtures
Few things are more annoying than a leaky faucet, whether it’s in your sink or your shower. Once you factor in the amount of money you waste (which can be a lot over time), it becomes even more irritating.
When you replace your leaky bathroom plumbing, consider upgrading to a water efficient faucet. These new fixtures slightly reduce the flow of water out of your shower or sink fixtures.
You probably won’t notice much of a difference when you shower, but you’ll definitely see a difference on your water bill. A showerhead that flows with two gallons-per-minute or less will also have a significant impact on the environment.
Fix Leaky Pipes
Leaky pipes are even more troublesome than leaky faucets because they’re often harder to find. Some leaks can waste thousands of gallons of water each year, and they can do a lot of expensive damage if it takes you a long time to notice them. What a waste of money!
Watch your water bill and monitor your water meter. If your meter goes up while you’re at work, but no one has been home to use water, you probably have a leak. Tracking down exactly where the leak is can be tough. Toilets are likely culprits, but if you’re not an experienced plumber, it can be challenging to find and fix the leak.
If you need help tracking down and fixing a leak, schedule an appointment with B&L Plumbing as soon as possible. We’ll find the leak and fix it before it ends up turning into a major expense. The less water you waste, the more money you’ll have to spend on something great. Plus, the planet will be happier as well.