South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Wise use of water saves money, helps planet

Using water wisely can save homeowners money, reduce energy costs and help protect the planet.

Here are a few easy conservation steps you can take:

• Check for leaks. Even the smallest leak from a worn faucet washer can waste gallons of water every day. You also can use your water meter to check for hidden leaks. Just read the water meter before and after a time when no water is being used. If the meter shows water has been used, there is a leak. Talk to your plumber.

• Only use your dishwasher and clothes washer when you have a full load. Washing smaller loads of laundry can use twice as much water per pound of laundry.

• When you wash dishes, don’t let the water run to rinse them. Fill a second sink with clear water for rinsing. Don’t rinse dishes before loading in the dishwasher.

• Install water-saving showerheads. A four-minute shower can use up to 40 gallons of water, and while you can take shorter showers, you also can save water with a low-flow showerhead.

Some companies have engineered low-flow showerheads to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, and WaterSense standards.

Such showerheads are designed to conserve water while still providing a full, satisfying spray to the user.

With low-flow showerheads, you can save more than 2,300 gallons per year.

Since this also reduces demands on water heaters, households also will save energy.

All products that bear the WaterSense label are tested and certified by an approved third-party laboratory to ensure they meet Environmental Protection Agency criteria.

For example, showerheads that earn the WaterSense label must use no more than 2 gallons per minute.

There are many models of eco showerheads, including handheld styles, which all range from 1.5 to 2 gallons per minute. As well as being efficient, the showerheads offer full-body sprays and therapeutic pulsating massage jets.

• Turn off the tap after wetting your toothbrush. In general, any time water is running, you are wasting it. That includes shaving and cooling water to drink.

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