Save Water Indoors

Typical indoor water usage for Yuba City residents is approximately 120 gallons per person per day, 3600 gallons per person per month! So where does your water go? According to the Water Education Foundation typical indoor water usage is categorized as follows:

indoor water graph 

 

You can follow these easy indoor tips to help ensure that your household uses water wisely:

    Use your washing machine and dishwasher only for full loads
    Did you know that a standard showerhead uses 5 gallons per minute? Install a low flow showerhead, which only uses 2 gallons per minute, and try to keep your showers limited to 5 minutes.

    Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator to reduce water waste while waiting for the water to cool.

    Turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving can save approximately 10 gallons a day.
    Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket! Traditional non-efficient toilets (pre-1990 models) use 3.5-5 gallons or more per flush.
    Replacing non-efficient toilets with an ultra low flush toilet can save 38 gallons per day. That adds up to 19,000 gallons per year per toilet!
    Don’t let water run while rinsing vegetables and dishes. Before rinsing put the sink stopper in place instead of running the water.
    Defrost food in the refrigerator instead of using running water.
    Check all pipes, faucets and toilets for leaks. A faucet drip or invisible leak in the toilet can add up to 20 gallons per day. Large leaks can waste hundreds of gallons per day.
    Install low flow faucet aerators. Older faucets use between 3 -7 gallons per minute. Low flow aerators use no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Aerator’s are inexpensive and can be attached to your existing faucet.

ACTIVITY

INEFFICIENT USE

EFFICIENT USE

Shower

Older styleshower headsuse 5-7 gallons per minute. Average 8 minute shower = 48 – 56 gallons.

Low flow showerhead using 2 gallons per minute with a 5 minute shower = 10 gallons.

Brushing Teeth

Older style faucet, tap running 1 minute = 5 gallons

Low flow faucet aerator, Wet brush and rinse = 1/8 gallon

Bath Tub

Full Tub = 35 gallons

Minimal water level w/ less than half the tub filled = 10 gallons

Shaving

Older style faucet, tap running 3 minutes = 15 gallons

Low flow faucet aerator, plug water in sink basin = 1 gallon

Washing Dishes

Older style faucet, tap running 5 minutes = 25 gallons

Tap off while washing, sink ½ full with a rinse bowl = 5 gallons

Washing Hands

Older style faucet, tap running 1 minute = 5 gallons

Tap off while washing = ¼ gallon

Toilet Flushing

Older style tank (pre -1990) = 3-7 gallons

Low flush toilet = 1.6 gallons

Washing Machine

Older style = 40 gallons per load

Efficient model = 25 gallons

Automatic Dishwasher

Full cycle = 25 gallons

Short Cycle = 12 gallons

Drinking Water

Run older style faucet 1 minute until water cools = 5 gallons

Keep water in a container in the refrigerator = 1/8 gallon