Some may not realize it, but water is gradually becoming a scarce resource in many parts of the world. For urbanites who greatly depend on water for their daily needs, conservation should truly start at home. You can make a huge difference by making some adjustments to your water usage habits, or by upgrading your plumbing fixtures. In the long run, you and your family will come to appreciate the cost-effectiveness of water conservation.
What Everyone Thinks about Conservation
In 2015, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating conducted a survey to gauge how the locals view the value of saving water. Interestingly, about half of the respondents admitted that they doubted the effectiveness of conserving water. However, on the other side of the spectrum, around 85% of Canadians believed in using water-saving technologies such as new fixtures. Following are some examples of water-conservation tactics.
Give Your Toilet an Upgrade
In America, toilets require at least a third of a home’s indoor water budget. Some 20 years ago, the average commode consumed about 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). Today, there are smarter and more water-friendly models that are not only sleek to look at, but also require less water to operate.
At best, you can try to look for efficient toilets that only use about 1.28 gpf. In Canada, dual-flush toilets are now being installed in many homes; these have two buttons: one that uses less water for wet waste and another that uses slightly more water for solid waste.
Shower Wisely
Next to toilets, showers are the biggest culprit in every home’s water bill—comprising about 20% of its allocation every day. A new craze in chic and modern bathrooms, ultra low-flow showerheads release only 2 gallons of water per minute (gpm). You receive a strong stream of water for quick rinsing, without having to waste much water, a noticeable reduction compared to old-style showerheads that operate on 2.5 gpm.
Install Conservative Faucets
Aside from showerheads, faucets can be replaced and upgraded in your abode. Typical home taps produce a flow rate of 2.5 gpm, just like showers. This translates to thousands of gallons lost per year in the average household. Smart homeowners now use conservative faucets in their kitchens, bathrooms, and gardens, which can reduce water consumption by cutting the normal flow rate to only 1.5 GPM.
Should you require more information about fixtures that promote water conservation, talk to the plumbing professionals in Edmonton and other surrounding areas. These professionals can check your current plumbing system and make an assessment to gauge if you’re going overboard with your water use. They can also recommend upgrades for your faucets, showerheads, or toilets to make your home a water-wise and future-ready one.