Are You Flushing Money Down the Toilet?

Whether your desire to save water springs from wanting to save the Earth or wanting to save your hard earned cash, here are five easy steps to help you achieve your water-saving goal. These steps are easy, money saving, and can be done by just about anyone.

1) Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when they are full
Running your dishwasher uses the same amount of water whether it is full or not, so wait until the machine is full before running a cycle. Although modern washing machines are built to accommodate various load sizes of laundry, the best bang for your water and electricity buck is to use the extra large setting for a full load of laundry. According to Water Use it Wisely , the average family can save nearly 1,000 gallons of water a month simply by running full loads of dishes and clothes.

2) Check your home for leaky faucets
Fixing a leaky faucet is a simple task that even the most unhandy of people can undertake. If you have a leaky faucet but no idea how to fix it, click here for detailed steps. This simple process can save you as many as 140 gallons of water each week.

3) Repair that annoying running toilet
Fixing a running toilet is every bit as simple as tightening a leaky faucet. Most often a running toilet is identified by the sound water makes as it is filling the tank. If you suspect your toilet is running but do not hear running water, drop a few drops of food coloring into the tank and in thirty minutes check the toilet bowl (do not flush.) You will know your toilet is running if there is color present in the bowl water. Often repairing a running toilet is as simple as adjusting the length of the chain that connects the flap at the bottom of the tank. For step by step instructions for fixing a running toilet, click here.

4) Take shorter showers
No one is suggesting a drastic change in your morning routine, but shaving off just a minute or two from your daily shower can save as many as 150 gallons per month. That's 1,800 gallons per year! However, If you simply can't seem to cut back your morning shower time, make an investment in a low-flow shower head. (Low-flow means less than 2.5 gallons per minute are used.)

5) Water your lawn only when it truly needs it
Running a sprinkler system can waste over 1,000 gallons of water per month due to unnecessary watering and runoff. Watering your grass just a few times a week rather than daily can save between 750 and 1,500 gallons of water per month. The best way to tell if your grass needs water is to step on it and watch the result. If the grass is springy and bounces back into place, skip watering for the day. If the grass doesn't spring back, go ahead and run the sprinkler system, or, better yet, use your hose to give the lawn a quick drink.

Following these five easy tips can help save you and your family up to 2,000 gallons of water per month. Your pocket book and the earth will thank you!