Do you know where our water comes from? In Dane County, our public water comes from a groundwater supply that is recharged through precipitation. When we pump water out faster than rain and snow refill the aquifer, groundwater levels drop. Hydrologic studies show that our groundwater supply can meet projected water demands indefinitely here in Madison only with appropriate management and conservation. Although city and county governments are responsible for managing our water, it is up to each of us to do our part to conserve water by reducing the amount we use in our homes. Perhaps the most efficient place to do this is in the bathroom, where 75% of household water is used. Here are a few tips on how to conserve water in your toilet:
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Don’t use the toilet as your wastebasket. Flushing tissues, trash tidbits, or squashed bugs uses several gallons of water per flush.
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Find out if your toilet leaks. Put a little food coloring in the tank (as long as it won’t stain the toilet bowl) and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired. Toilet leaks are common and could cost you 100 gallons of water each day.
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If your home was built before 1992 and you haven’t replaced your toilets recently, you probably could benefit from installing high-efficiency toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. A family of four can save 14,000 to 25,000 gallons of water per year by making this change. Installing two-button, dual flush toilets would save even more! These toilets use either 1.28 or 0.8 gallons per flush. See www.caromausa.com for details. Alternatively, you can flush with less water by placing a large plastic bottle full of sand or water in your toilet tank to reduce water consumption every time you flush. (Don’t use bricks).
For more information and ideas on how to conserve water, visit http://www.enactwi.org/. Check back here every other week throughout the summer for new tips from EnAct to help you step more lightly on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.