Home Water Conservation Guide for Parents with Kids

Introduction

Water is a precious resource. It is an integral part of survival. Humans, animals, and plants rely on water for hydration and nourishment. However, only 2.5 percent of the planet’s water is potable and safe for living creatures.

In the United States, there are 204 freshwater basins. Research from the journal Earth’s Future notes that half of these basins won’t be able to support the monthly water demand of American homes.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out that, on average, an American family wastes 180 gallons of water per week, or 9,600 gallons per year. This water wastage can accommodate 300 loads of laundry.

Indoor Water Wastage

Household water leaks are another major issue, amounting to 900 billion gallons of water wasted every year. Think about it this way: this amount provides enough water supply for 11 million homes.

Aside from those mentioned above, simple activities that use water also contribute to water scarcity and wastage. For example, turning faucets tightly when you brush your teeth or shave saves eight to ten gallons per day. Also, fully loading the dishwasher can save about 320 gallons annually.

Outdoor Water Wastage

The EPA also reports that water usage for outdoor purposes accounts for a sizable portion of wastage that leads to water scarcity. An average-sized American lawn can consume one year’s worth of nutrient-rich water.

If the lawn is watered 20 minutes per day for seven days, the water consumption is equivalent to a nonstop four-day shower time (estimated to be around 800 showers.) This can be difficult to offset even if you start taking shorter showers.

Inefficient and improper irrigation also contributes to water wastage. 50 percent of outdoor water use is lost due to the weather (e.g., winds, evaporation) and runoffs.

Water Conservation at Home

Households should make an effort to conserve water. The following items must be considered to conserve water at home:

Awareness of family members about the importance of water
Participation of family members in water-conservation measures
Maintenance of home water systems through plumbing
Cost-awareness about trends in monthly water bills

Water Conservation for Kids

While kids may enjoy soaking in the bathtub, parents should take the initiative to teach children about conserving water. The EPA’s WaterSense for Kids is an interactive site where kids can learn how to save water.

It has a game called WaterSense Game, where kids can play and learn about water conversation. Parents can also guide their children to help them better understand the learning material.

WaterSense

The WaterSense label is an EPA-sanctioned partnership program that aims to provide water-efficient products for households. Products with the WaterSense label are guaranteed to be water- and cost-efficient for homes.

Indoor Water Conservation

According to the Residential End Uses of Water Executive Report, indoor household use accounts for 138 gallons per household per day (gphd).

Toilet, faucet, and shower use already account for 64 percent of total household water use. If water conservation at home focuses more on these three household fixtures, families will have less costly water bills and lower water wastage.

Water Conservation in the Kitchen

Kitchen use requires clean water. You wash dishes, clean meat and vegetables, and wash your hands in the kitchen. However, even normal kitchen-use practices contribute to water wastage. These practices include the following:

Using a dishwasher that’s not full
Letting tap or drinking water flow even when not in use
Ignoring plumbing problems

When using the kitchen, water use must be minimal. Use water only when needed, and you will see a big difference in your water-saving efforts. Below are simple ways to save water in the kitchen.

Fully loading the dishwasher. A dishwasher is designed in such a way that it can clean a certain number of dishes and utensils per runtime. If families don’t fill the dishwasher and just use it to clean one glass, water usage is still equivalent to a full load.
Washing dishes by hand. Wash dishes manually to save water. By soaking dishes in clean water before washing, households can use less water. Also, washing by hand is recommended if there are only a few dirty plates.
Turning off the tap when cleaning vegetables, meat, and other produce. Instead of letting tap water flow, fill a bowl or basin with water instead. This way, you can turn the faucets tightly and avoid water wastage.
Reusing water. The water used to clean leafy vegetables, boil pasta, or fill your fish tank can be used to water a house plant or hydrate the non-edible plants in your garden. You don’t need just to dump it in the drain. If you accidentally drop ice cubes, you can also use them for your plants.

Replacing pipes and faucets when needed. If a faucet leaks one drop at a time, it’s best to replace it. One drop of water is said to be equivalent to 0.05 mL. If not fixed within the next 24 hours and assuming that the drop rate is one drop every two seconds, water wastage is approximately 2.16 liters of water per day or roughly 208.3 gallons per year.

Water Conservation in the Bathroom

Toilets and showers account for 44 percent of daily water usage, as stated in the table above. That’s why water-conservation measures must emphasize the bathroom. The following are the common water-wastage situations in the bathroom:

Excessive flushing
Water-inefficient toilets and showerheads
Letting clean water flow while you brush your teeth
Ignoring plumbing problems
Using bathtubs

Using water in the bathroom cannot be avoided. However, you can save water by following the steps below:

Minimizing tub baths. While some may find tub baths refreshing and relaxing, they actually use 70 gallons of water, according to the EPA. Use bathtubs sparingly to save water.
Showering quickly. Some people take an hour-long bath. It’s best to reduce shower time to five to ten minutes. The EPA said that a five-minute shower uses about 10 to 15 gallons of water.
Throwing toilet paper and other types of trash at appropriate bins. Using the toilet as a trash bin is a terrible practice. Flushing out the trash is wasting clean water.

Use water-efficient showerheads. The EPA recommends the use of low-flow showerheads, pointing out that this can reduce US water consumption by 250 billion gallons or earn about $1.5 billion in savings in water bills.

Water Conservation for Sinks

Kitchens, powder rooms, and bathrooms use sinks; sometimes, water usage in sinks can lead to waste. To reduce water usage from these fixtures and save water, families must do the following:

Turn off the tap. Turn faucets tightly when brushing, shaving, or washing to prevent water waste.
Install low-flow faucet aerators. A conventional faucet's flow rate is around 3 gallons per minute. Changing to low-flow faucets reduces this to 50 percent or 1.5 gallons per minute.
Fix leaks as soon as possible. Leaks are the biggest and most elusive reason for the rise in monthly water bills. If water bills are way above the average amount, always have the plumber check the pipes.

Indoor Household Fixture	gphd	%
Toilet	32.6	24%
Faucet	27.0	20%
Shower	26.9	20%
Clothes Washer	22.0	16%
Bath	4.4	3%
Other	4.0	3%
Dishwasher	2.2	2%

Outdoor Water Conservation

According to the Residential End Uses of Water Executive Report, improper landscaping, irrigation, and evaporation are the main issues concerning outdoor water wastage. Thus, the following measures in watering lawns, non-edible plants, and gardens must be followed to save water:

Water early in the morning. In the morning, water evaporation slows down because of the cooler temperature, which means the roots will be able to absorb more nutrient-rich water.
Reduce lawn watering time. Cutting watering time by 50 percent can help you save gallons. If you water your plants in the morning when it’s still cold and less windy, the water absorption rate is faster than the evaporation rate.
Use recycled water for watering plants. Water used for cleaning vegetables and other produce can be used to water plants. Ensure it doesn’t contain dishwashing liquid, detergent, or any cleaning agent. When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water. Instead, use it for your trees or shrubs.
Take time to learn when you grow vegetables and plants. Not all plants need water every day. Some plant species can survive for days without water. Knowing your plants' properties can help reduce water usage and save water.

Installation of Water-Efficient Fixtures to Save Water

The WaterSense label is a signal to customers that the product uses less water. The following are some facts about water-efficient fixtures that comply with WaterSense requirements:

Toilet. Flushometer valve toilets with WaterSense labels save up to 20 percent of water if compared to federal standards. If all toilets have this label, 39 billion gallons of water can be saved annually.
Showerheads. WaterSense showerheads use only 2 gallons of water per minute. The ordinary showerhead uses 2.5 gallons. Aside from reduced water consumption, electricity costs will also decrease because of reduced heating from heaters.
Faucets. Ordinary faucets use 2.2 gallons of water, while WaterSense faucets use only 1.5 gallons. If all faucets in the US were WaterSense-labeled, they could save 700 gallons of water per year, equivalent to 45 showers.
Automatic clothes washers. For clothes washers, look for the Energy Star label. They use only 14 gallons of water per load. Per year, that’s equivalent to 2,000 gallons of water savings.
Automatic dishwashers. Just like clothes washers, dishwashers with the Energy Star label are preferred. They reduce utility bills by $35 annually because of less electricity and lower water usage costs. Over their lifetime, they can save 3,870 gallons per year.

Assuming an American home will retrofit the house with water-efficient fixtures, it can tremendously reduce water usage and water bills. And more importantly, it can help the government and the environment conserve scarce drinking water resources.

References

Brown, T. C., Mahat, V., & Ramirez, J. A. (2019). Adaptation to Future Water Shortages in the United States Caused by Population Growth
and Climate Change. Earth’s Future, 7(3), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018ef001091

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. (2016, October 26). Indoor and Outdoor Residential Water Conservation Checklist.
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/indoor-outdoor-residential-water-conservation-checklist

DeOreo, W. B., Mayer, P., Dziegielewski, B., & Kiefer, J. (2016, April). Residential End Uses of Water (No. 2). Water Research Foundation.
https://www.circleofblue.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WRF_REU2016.pdf

Energy Star. (n.d.). Make Laundry Better.
https://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances/clothes_washers

Han, E. (2016, February 4). 10 Simple Ways to Conserve Water in the Kitchen. KCET.
https://www.kcet.org/home-garden/10-simple-ways-to-conserve-water-in-the-kitchen

Jen, T. (2011, March). Shower or Bath?: Essential Answer. Stanford Magazine.
https://stanfordmag.org/contents/shower-or-bath-essential-answer

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2019a, October 29). Statistics and Facts. US EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2019b, December 31). About WaterSense. US EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/about-watersense

Water Utility Authority. (n.d.). Save Water in the Bathroom.
https://www.abcwua.org/Save_Water_in_the_Bathroom.aspx