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Tips for Saving Water at Home
Massacusetts Water Resources Authority
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In 1986, MWRA customers used a total of 330 million gallons of water per day.
Thanks to every-day water conservation efforts, demand has been reduced to 206 million gallons per day (in 2008).
Saving water keeps supplies level and has helped residents control their water, sewer and energy costs.
Below are some easy ways to save water at home.
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving: save 1-2 gallons per minute.
Never use your toilet as a wastebasket: save 1-7 gallons per flush.
Don't take marathon showers: five minutes will get you clean. Save 2-4 gallons per minute.
Fill your bathtub only halfway: save 5 gallons or more. You will save hot water costs, too.
HOW TO FIND AND FIX LEAKS
Faucets and Showerheads
Dripping or trickling faucets and showerheads can waste from 75 to several hundred gallons of water a week depending on the size of the drip. Worn-out washers are the main cause of these leaks and a new one generally costs about 25 cents.
Faucets typically use 2 to 7 gallons per minute. Installing a low-flow (1.5-gallon per minute) faucet aerator can reduce the flow significantly. Be sure to remove your aerator periodically to clean the particles that may have collected in the screen.
A Simple Test for Leaks
A leaky faucet is pretty obvious. But hidden leaks in the toilet, under the sink, or behind a washing machine can waste a significant amount of water. And they could be damaging your floors or ceilings too. Take a reading of your water meter. Wait an hour, making sure no one uses any water in your home. Check it again. If the reading has changed, you have got at least one leak and you need to investigate.
Toilets
That trickling sound you hear in the bathroom could be a leaky toilet wasting 50 gallons of water a day or more. But sometimes it leaks silently. Try this:
Crush a dye tablet in its envelope and carefully empty the contents into the center of the toilet tank and allow it to dissolve. Wait about 10 minutes. Inspect the toilet bowl for signs of blue dye indicating a leak.
If the dye has appeared in the bowl, your flapper or flush valve may need to be replaced. Parts are inexpensive and fairly easy to replace. If no dye has appeared in 10 minutes time, you probably don't have a leak.
FREE WATER SAVING DEVICES FOR MWRA CUSTOMERS
FREE RETROFIT KITS
If you live in an MWRA customer community, you may be eligible to receive free water-efficiency kits. Kits can include showerheads, aerators, toilet tank dams and leak-detecting dye tabs. The contents of the kits may vary. Kits are available while supplies last.
Water service providers (e.g., DPWs) within the MWRA service area may request up to 50 kits for distribution to local residents and businesses.
Please download our request form for more info.
FREE INFORMATION ON SAVING WATER FOR MWRA SERVICE COMMUNITIES, HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
Water service providers within MWRA's service area, you may be eligible to receive free water-efficiency literature and bill inserts. Please download our request form for more info.
To receive a kit:
- Print out our Water-saving fixture and literature request form (pdf)
- Mail or fax the completed form to:
Elaine Donahue
MWRA
Charlestown Navy Yard, 100 First Aveune - Building 39
Boston, MA 02129Fax: (617 )788-4888
Phone: (617) 242 -SAVE
PDF files on this page require Adobe Acrobat Reader. (Free download)
Updated September 4, 2009