Tips to Save Water (and Dollars) Amid Severe Drought

Even in a region long accustomed to long, hot summers, the drought currently chocking the Western United States is without precedent in recent memory. Winter precipitation totals fell short of average and water levels have dropped so precipitously that in some reservoirs, such as Lake Mead outside Las Vegas, the receding waters have revealed decayed corpses. Water rationing and restrictions are bound to grow more severe.

Fortunately, there are plenty of easy steps homeowners can take to make the most of every drop of water they use, strategies they can use inside the house and out that will not only contribute to easing water shortages but save them money as well.

Stop the Leaks: Even the smallest leak ca waste hundreds of gallons a year. To see if there’s a problem, read your meter when no water is being used and then a few hours later to see if the gauge has changed. Fixing the problem could be as simple as replacing a faucet washer but be aware there might be a larger, more costly issue, such as an unseen leak in a pipe.

Wrap It Up: Wrapping foam insulation around hot water pipes saves both water and energy by providing hot water faster and maintaining its temperature longer. This severely reduces the water we waste running the tap to heat it up.

Time to Upgrade: Toilets are the largest water user in your home and those made before 1993 use two to three times as much water as newer one. An answer: replace your older model with a new low- or dual-flush toilet that can use as little as one gallon per flush. Looking for a less expensive alternative? Add a few inches of gravel or sand to a plastic soft drink bottle, fill it with water, screw on the cap and put it in the tank away from the float. This will reduce the amount of water used per flush.

Stop Standing Around: As wonderful as it feels to linger in the shower, you can go through anything from two to five gallons per minute in the process. Cutting your showers short and installing a water-saving shower head will prevent thousands of gallons annually from running down the drain.

No Running: Leaving the faucet running while you shave or brush your teeth is among the obvious ways people waste water. In both cases, wait until you get to the end of the process and turn on just enough water to complete the job.

Dishing on Washing: When used properly, a dishwasher uses less water than handwashing. Remember always to run the machine when it’s full and use water-saving settings whenever you can.

Laundry Day: Washing clothes is the second largest water use in your home. Again, only run the washer with a full load and utilize water-saving settings when you can. Avoid the permanent-press cycle it uses as many as five gallons more water per load. And keep in mind that while washing clothes on cold saves energy by reducing water heating, it uses the same amount of water as warm or hot settings.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.