Water Conservation
Water facts of life
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80% of earth’s surface is water.
97% of earth’s water is salt water.
2% of earth’s water is frozen in ice caps.
1% of earth’s water is available—for agricultural, residential, manufacturing, community and
personal needs..
Water regulates
 the earth’s temperature
 the temperature of the human body
 carries nutrients and oxygen to cells
 cushions joints
 protects organs and tissues
 removes waste
75% of the human brain is water.
75% of a living tree is water.
A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water.
The average total home water use for each person in the U.S. is about 50 gallons a day.
Americans drink more than 1 billion glasses of tap water a day.
Bathroom – 50-75% of all residential water use occurs in the bathroom.
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A standard pre-1980 toilet uses:
A 1980-1992 toilet uses:
A low-consumption toilet uses:
Displacement bags save:
The average faucet uses:
Faucet aerators reduce flow by:
Low-flow showerheads uses:
4.5 – 7.0 gallons per flush
3.5 gallons per flush
1.6 gallons per flush (or less)
0.6 gallons per flush
0.5 – 5 gallons per minute
1 gallon per minute
2.5 gallons per minute (or less)
Water Conservation Tips
Bathroom
Run faucets only when necessary – don’t run water while you brush your teeth or shave.
Turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save a family 5 to 10 gallons per day
Fix leaks and drips!
Homes can waste more than 10% due to leaking. Dripping faucets can waste 2,000
gallons of water a year.
Use plugs in sinks, tubs, and baths. Close drain before filling.
Replace your current toilets with new “low-volume” toilets.
Leaky toilets can waste 200 gallons each day.
Take shorter showers. Keep under 5 minutes
Take baths.
Install low-flow faucet aerators.
Install low-flow showerheads.
New showerheads deliver 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Older fixtures can deliver as
high as 8 gallons per minute.
Flush less – put used tissues, trash, paper and other solid and liquid waste in wastebasket
instead of flushing down the toilet.
Flushing accounts for 40% of a resident’s water costs.
Kitchen and Laundry
Use appliances efficiently. Run full loads.
Clean vegetables and fruit efficiently. Use a vegetable brush to expedite cleaning.
Use garbage disposals as little as possible. Start a compost pile or give leftovers to animals.
Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Avoid running the tap just to cool water
for drinking.
Lawn and Garden
Water only when necessary. Early morning or evenings are the best times.
Deep soak your lawn. Allow moisture to soak down to the roots where is does the most
good.
Mulch trees and plants to reduce evaporation.
Collect rain water to use for plants and lawn.
Wash cars sensibly. Wash on the grass. Turn off hose when not in use.
Don’t water lawn or wash cars when water is in short supply.
Source:
101 Ways to Save Water and Electricity,
prepared by Pat Hildebrand, University of Illinois Extension
101 Ways to GO GREEN, prepared by Pat Hildebrand,
University of Illinois Extension
www.epa.gov
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences - United States Department
of Agriculture - Local Extension Councils Cooperating - Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment