Running a faucet for five minutes uses as much electricity (for water purification, delivery, and treatment) as burning a 60 watt light bulb for 14 hours? In fact, according to the EPA, 3% of the United State's electricity is used to purify, deliver, and treat residential water.
Average US Water Price (2007): $1.50 per 1000 gallons
A dripping faucet can waste more than 2000 gallons of water per year
Americans drink 110 million gallons of water per year
Less than 2% of Earth's water supply is fresh
People are often slow to change their ways, especially when money is involved. The initial investment required in order to reduce your water usage may seem offputting, but if you consider the financial benefits of a water conservation investment, the cost effectiveness of such measures becomes much clearer. First, let's take a look at the most basic water saving feature you can add to your home:
Low-flow Shower Heads:
Average price=$25
Average water savings over normal showerhead: 450%
Water saved per year (based on 4 person family): 32,000 gallons
Savings in first year: $48-$25 = $23
If you're looking to remodel or replace old plumbing, even greater cost-saving options are available to you. For example, you can choose to replace normal toilets (about 6 gallons per flush) with low-flow ones that use as little as 1.6 gallons. This can save thousands of gallons of water each year. If you're looking for replace your washing machine, find an HE model--they use about 20% less water than standard models.
Although making upgrades to your home can save money in the long run, the most cost effective water conservation measures are those that don't cost anything to begin with. Simply shutting off the tap while brushing your teeth or taking a shorter shower can cut your water bill dramatically, leaving you with more money to invest in bigger and more ambitious residential water conservation projects.