Most of us like to think we are good conservationists, but is your house as water-efficient as it can be? If you are unsure, a household water use assessment might be just the thing to help you conserve water and save money at the same time

What is a household water use assessment?

The assessment is broken down into three separate sections:
1. How much water do you use?
2. Detecting leaks
    • Pipes
    • Toilets
    • Sink and bathtub faucets
3. Conserving Water
    • Sink and bathtub faucets
    • Toilets
    • Other Appliances
    • Outdoor Water Use
    • Behavior

Water usage varies depending on the household and the time of year. In warmer months, water use typically increases because people use water outdoors. Lawn watering, pools, and car, deck and driveway washing are some of the ways people use water outside. It is important to consider the time of year when looking at how much water you use.

If you are on public water supply, you probably receive a water bill. If your bill doesn’t display average daily use, you can calculate it by using the total monthly use and divide by the number of days in the billing period. It is important to know how your meter or bill measures water; whether it is in cubic meters (m3), cubic feet (CF or CCF), gallons (gal), or liters (L). You will need to convert to gallons for comparison purposes.

Water meters record how much water is used by your household. The water meter is usually located on the house or next to the property line near a local roadway. To determine how much water is used in your household, read your meter at the same time on two consecutive days. Or just check your water bill.

On average Metro Atlanta single family households lose 11 percent of their water to leaks. And regardless of the water use (or disuse), they are still being billed for it! A general way to check for leaks within your house is turn off all water-using fixtures in the house. Then check the meter dial for any movement. If the meter is moving when all the water in the house is turned off, you have a leak somewhere in your home.

Pipes: If your water meter suggests that you have a leak or if you are unable to check your water meter, there are some easy ways to look for leaks. Water marks on floor, walls or ceilings can indicate indoor pipe leakage. Outside, water found at the ground surface or on pavement when there has not been rainfall can indicate a broken underground pipe. Also, be aware of any sudden increases in your water bill. Confirm that they are not due to broken pipes.

Toilets: Toilets typically leak more than any other plumbing fixture in the home. A leaking toilet is often indicated by the sound of water “running” after use or when not in use. The best way to check for toilet leaks is to put some food coloring or dye tablets in the toilet tank. Wait 30 minutes. Do not flush the toilet. If the water in the bowl becomes colored, you have a leak. These leaks can be caused by 1) a toilet float which is set too high or 2) a leaking flapper valve. To check which might be the culprit, draw a line on the tank where the water level is located. Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Wait another 30 minutes. If the water level stays the same, the float arm will need to be adjusted to a lower level. If the water level is lower, the leak involves the flapper valve. Replacing the flapper valve and other minor toilet tank adjustments are a low-cost fix that can save you significant money on your water bill. Don’t forget to turn the water supply back on!

Faucets: Simple observation can tell you if you have a bathtub or sink faucet leak. All those drips can add up, so if you see one, replace worn washers and valve seals as soon as possible. Visit http://www.awwa.org/advocacy/learn/conserve/dripcalc.cfm to use the Drip Calculator and determine how much water those leaks can waste.

Now that all of your leaks are fixed, there are other ways to save water in your home. Your current fixtures may not be very efficient at using water. Some simple retrofits that can save water include adding low-flow aerators to faucets, installing low volume showerheads and replacing high volume toilets with new ultra low-flush toilets. In addition, you can conserve water by adjusting some of your everyday habits.

The first step is to evaluate the efficiency of your faucets and showerheads. To do this you will need a plastic bag or bucket and a second timer. First, place the bag or bucket in the entire stream of water before turning on the water so all of it will be caught. Turn the water on full blast for exactly five seconds. Measure the flow rate of each faucet in the house.

Use a measuring cup to determine the volume of water in the bag/bucket. Use the following formulas to convert to gallons.

Multiply the number of cups of water in the bag/bucket by 0.0625 = ____ gallons

Now, divide the number of gallons by 0.0833 to get a flow rate in gallons per minute (gpm).

If your showerhead uses more than 2.5 gpm, you could save water by replacing it with a new low-flow showerhead. These showerheads conserve water by mixing air with water to reduce the amount of water but still feel like higher flowing fixtures. Showerheads can be purchased for as little as $3.00 at your local hardware or home improvement store.

If any of your faucets (bathroom, kitchen or other) uses more the 2.0 gpm, you need to change your existing aerator and/or add a new faucet aerator. Faucet aerators cost around a dollar each and are easy to install.

If your home was built before 1992, it may contain older, inefficient toilets. These toilets can use as much as five times more water than newer toilets! If you don’t know how old your toilet is or if it is not labeled as 1.6 gpf or gallons per flush you may need to measure how much water your tank uses. To do this, carefully shut off the valve in the toilet tank supply line. Then mark the water level in the tank reservoir. Flush the toilet. Now, refill the tank reservoir to the marked level using a graduated container to determine how much water is needed to flush the toilet. Once you've completed this task, don't forget to open the valve under the toilet.

If your toilet uses more that 1.6 gallons per flush you could save 50-75% by installing a new toilet. Depending on the inefficiency of the current toilet, the savings you receive on your water bill could pay for the new toilet within the first year of use.

Clothes washers and dishwashers are other large water users in the home. Older appliances typically use more water and do not offer low water using options. Replacing these appliances with more efficient ones can save on both water and energy.

In the metropolitan Atlanta area, more than 20% of summer water consumption goes to outdoor watering. The first step in saving water outside is to do a thorough check of your landscape and irrigation practices. If you have a sprinkler, make sure none of the spray heads are watering hard surfaces like your driveway, your house or the road. Don’t over-water your lawn. To promote strong root growth and drought tolerance in plants, water deeply and infrequently; one inch once a week is enough for most fescue lawns. And reduce evaporative losses by using mulch around trees and plants; only water during the early morning and the late evening; and use efficient sprinklers that throw large drops rather than a fine mist.

Check for leaky hoses and faucets outside. Never leave the water running when using the hose. A hose nozzle with shut-off switch can save hundreds of gallons of water when washing your car.

In the Metro Atlanta area, all new in-ground landscape irrigation systems must have an automatic rain sensor shut-off switch. All Georgians using public water must following the Department of Natural Resources schedule for outdoor watering. The non-drought schedule is as follows:

Changing the Way You Think About Water

Simple changes to your behavior and habits can significantly help you conserve water and save money.

Indoors:

Outdoors: