Indoor Water Conservation

Toilets

Toilet flushing accounts for 40% of indoor water use. Older model toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush.

Quick Fix: Place a water displacement bottle in your toilet tank. A clean, heavy glass jar, such as a barrel pickle jar, no taller than 6½ inches will work well. The full glass jar without a lid will not move around in the tank and will not deteriorate over time. Place it in a corner where it will not interfere with the operation of the float assembly.

Replacement Solution: When replacing your old toilet, purchase one of the new water-saving models. They use as little as 1.6 gallons per flush. Ultra-low flush toilets install just like conventional toilets, making them ideal for remodeling and new construction. They can be purchased in a wide spectrum of decorator colors and styles.

Two flushing styles are available; gravity and pressure assist. Performance standards and testing criteria are available on the new models. Do your homework to determine which one is best suited for your home.

Showers

Bathing is the second largest volume of water used in the home. If your home was built before 1991, you may use 40 gallons of water or more for an 8-minute shower.

Quick Fix: Watch your shower time. Besides wasting water, you're also wasting money on heating all that water, too! Email us at conservation@chelanpud.org for a handy 5-minute shower timer for free.

Replacement Solution: Switch to a high-efficiency showerhead that uses no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. A full bathtub may use 36 gallons of water. At minimum water level, you will use only 10 gallons of water. You save on the water usage, as well as your power bill. 

Get 45% off instantly when you use the code CCPUD when you order online. Plus, you can get a showerhead with a thermostatic valve (TSV) that will save you even more money while you wait for your shower to heat up.

Faucets

Quick Fix: Use faucet aerators on all faucets. Like the water-saving showerheads, the aerators give you the same water pressure without using as much water.

Laundry

Quick Fix: Conserve water in your existing washer by doing full loads, or adjust the water level. Most top-load washers use from 32 to 60 gallons of water per load.

Replacement Solution: Look for front-loading washers when buying a new appliance. Depending upon the model, they use from 15 to 22 gallons of water per load.

Look for models with a variety of water levels and temperature settings to maximize water and energy savings. Some models have internal coils to heat the water as it enters the washer.

The higher spin rates on the front-load washers mean more energy savings from a shorter drying time. Less water going into a septic system can increase the life of the drainfield.

Dish Washing

Quick Fix: If you wash dishes by hand, use a wash basin or plug the sink, and don't let the water run while washing.

If you use a dishwasher, make sure you only run it fully loaded. Scrape your plate instead of rinsing it--functioning modern dishwashers should take care of the rest for you.

Replacement Solution: If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, get an Energy Star model that saves on both water and electricity for double the savings.