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Luke Mullins
Americans have plenty of reasons to conserve water. Efficient water use helps maintain reservoir and groundwater supplies at levels
that support a healthy public and a thriving environment. Meanwhile, smarter water use reduces the amount of energy needed to treat
and transport the supply. What's more, conserving water saves money.
1. Leaking toilets
The average household can leak more than 10,000 gallons of water each year, and much of that water escapes through toilets.
"The leaking toilet can be one of the worst water wasters and probably one of the biggest areas of just total waste in the
household," says Eva Opitz, the chair of the
2. No WaterSense
Certain home products use water more efficiently than others. To ensure that your home is as water efficient as possible, experts encourage consumers to look for the WaterSense label when buying or replacing appliances. In partnership with the
3. Overwatering the lawn
Homeowners should pay close attention to how they water their lawns and gardens to ensure that they are not accidentally wasting resources, experts say. "In many parts of the country, more than 50 percent of residential water use -- that's treated drinking water -- goes out on the lawn," says Mary Ann Dickinson, the executive director of the
4. Toilet Trash Can
Representing almost a third of a household's total indoor consumption, toilets are the biggest source of water use in your home. And even if the unit itself is working correctly, improper use of a toilet can waste water. To eliminate extra flushes -- which unnecessarily consume water -- experts recommend that homeowners avoid using their toilets as garbage bins. "If you have a tissue, don't flush it down the toilet," Thornton says. "Don't use the toilet as a trash can."
5. Asleep in the bathroom
There are several other simple ways to cut down on water use in the bathroom. When you are shaving or brushing your teeth, turn the water off when you're not using it -- rather than letting it run the whole time. Thornton also recommends taking a shower instead of a bath. "A bath can use up to 75 gallons of water," she says. "So showers are usually better as long as they are not really really long."
6. Half-full laundry loads
Being smart about the way you use your washing machine is another way to increase the water efficiency of your home. "Only wash full loads of clothes," Dickinson says. "Don't go running the clothes washer load for just five pieces of clothing." By consolidating smaller loads into larger ones, you can minimize the use of your washing machine, which will conserve water and save money.
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6 Ways You're Wasting Water Right Now