Top 3 Places in Your Home to Reduce Water Consumption

It's no secret to anyone in California that we're in the middle of one of the worst droughts in the last 100 years. Folsom Lake, for example, located northeast of Sacramento, is down to just 37% capacity and is dropping over 9 inches every day. You can understand the local concern when you realize that over half a million people rely directly on that lake as their primary source of water.

So what does this mean for California?  It means it's time to conserve! But how much is enough?  According to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, each household should aim to reduce their water use by a minimum of 20%, including the elimination of all outdoor irrigation. Sounds simple enough, but what specific steps can we take to hit that 20%?  We're glad you asked:

1 - Laundry Room

• When washing a load of laundry, make sure it's a full load. If you can eliminate small and medium loads in the laundry you'll save anywhere from 15-45 gallons per load.
• Consider purchasing a water-efficient washer, which can reduce your consumption by 10-20 gallons per load as well.

2 - Kitchen

• Just as in the laundry room, don't run the dishwasher until it's full. Doing this will reduce your consumption anywhere from 2-5 gallons per load.
• Look into installing aerators on your kitchen faucet to reduce unnecessary water flow

3 - Bathroom

• Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth; by doing this you'll conserve approximately 10 gallons per day.
• Install a high-efficiency toilet and you'll reduce each person's consumption by 19 gallons per day!

Aside from conserving water, there are several other benefits that come from following these tips; if you're looking for ways to increase your home's value, start by installing some of these high-efficiency appliances and kill two birds with one stone. You'll even reduce your water bill each month and avoid potential fines for excessive water use if the drought situation worsens.

We would also love to hear what other measures people are taking; are there any other areas of the home, or additional tips that have helped you reduce your water consumption?

Happy Conserving!