Simple suggestions lead to big savings on water bill

Area residents can significantly save on their finances by taking a few extra steps in their day to conserve water. The following are some easy steps residents can take to promote a better environment and save on their household expenses.

•Signs and symptoms. Do you hear water running when there is nothing on? If the water or gas bill is running high, it could indicate a cold or hot water leak. Are there hot spots on the lab or floor? Is the auto fill constantly running on pool/spa? Toilets constantly filling could indicate bad flapper or float assembly.

•Watch for leaks. Pay attention to signs of plumbing, pool and spa leaks. Do a routine indoor-outdoor check every three months or call a professional to do it.

•Check faucets for drips. If a drip fills an 8-ounce glass every quarter hour, it will lose about 180 gallons per month. That equal 2,160 gallons a year, enough for at least 30 showers or baths. Drips can usually be fixed by replacing inexpensive washers or valve seats.

•Install flow restrictors or other conservation devices on all faucets in your home. With these in the shower alone, water use can be cut from about 5 to 10 gallons per minute to as low as 1 to 3 gallons per minute.

•Use a pool/spa cover to cut down on water loss and heating costs caused by evaporation.

•Keep drinking water in the refrigerator so the tap doesn't have to run until the water gets cold enough to drink.

•Prevent tap water from running by scraping food from plates with a utensil instead of running water. Instead of continuously running water in the sink when washing dishes, hand wash dishes in a sink full of soapy water and rinse all the dishes at the same time. Turn water off when brushing teeth.

•Decrease toilet flush water. Lower the amount of water used per flush by replacing regular or older toilets with new ultra-low flush models or put water displacement devices inside every toilet tank.

•Sprinklers. Use accurate and efficient sprinklers or drip irrigation systems instead of hand watering. Check sprinklers for jammed or malfunctioning heads. Water lawns during the coolest times of the day, before 10 a.m. or in the evening.

•Landscaping. Pull weeds as they steal water from desirable plants. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow moisture evaporation.

This article is provided by American Leak Detection.