How to Reduce Water Usage in Your Delano Home
Running water is so readily available to us that it can be easy to take for granted. Sometimes, it’s not until we get our monthly utility bill that we realize how much water we’ve been using.
In Delano, we get our water from four wells that draw it from an underground aquifer. Reducing water usage in our homes helps us save money on utility bills and conserves our community’s water resources for future generations. And cutting back on water usage is easier than you might realize.
Find the Hidden Leaks
According to the EPA, the average household’s leaks can account for more than 9,300 gallons of water wasted every year. And nine percent of homes have leaks that waste at least 50 gallons per day! Most of these leaks are due to failed toilet flappers and dripping faucets.
To determine if your home has any leaks, use this simple water meter test:
- Turn off all water inside and outside your home (but do not shut off the main water valve).
- Check the water meter dial.
- Wait two hours without using any water.
- Check the dial again. If the meter has changed, indicating water usage, then you probably have a leak.
To check for a leaky toilet, put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If color appears in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. Replacing the flapper valve will usually fix this. You should replace your flapper at least every five years to avoid leaks.
To find other household leaks, look for drips coming from sink faucets and showerheads and check for pooling water underneath pipes and appliances. Worn out washers and gaskets are a common cause of faucet leaks. A faucet leaking one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year!
Save Water with Simple Daily Habits
In many cases, we can save significant amounts of water by making some easy adjustments to our daily routines.
In the bathroom:
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.
- Consider using cold water instead of waiting for the water to heat up.
- Take shorter showers and consider turning the water off while lathering.
- Take fewer baths, which use more water than showers.
In the kitchen:
- Scrape food scraps into the trash instead of rinsing plates.
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s completely full. Dishwashers use less water than washing dishes by hand.
- Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator instead of running it under hot water.
In the laundry room:
- Wash only full loads of laundry.
- If you have to wash a smaller load, use the appropriate load size or water level setting.
- Don’t use the extra rinse setting.
Make High-Impact Upgrades
Upgrading your water-using appliances can help you save on water costs.
- Install cheap low-flow aerators onto faucets, which mix air into the water stream to provide strong pressure while reducing water usage.
- Replace old faucets, showerheads, and other plumbing fixtures with WaterSense® labeled products, which can save water and energy.
- Upgrade to ENERGY STAR® certified appliances, which are more energy- and water-efficient than standard models.
Save Money, Benefit the Community
Taking small steps like these to reduce water usage can be a huge cost savings. But fixing a leaky toilet or turning off the faucet doesn’t just benefit you—it helps our community conserve Delano’s water supply for decades to come.
To review your water usage and monitor your account, log in to your SmartHub portal. And for more tips on how to reduce water usage in your Delano home, contact our team.