Reducing Water Consumption Key To Saving Money

Reduce Water Consumption To Save Money Don’t let money go down the drain! Dripping faucets and leaky toilets account for more than 59 percent of indoor water use in America according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Ensuring that faucets, showerheads and toilets are working properly and are free from leaks will reduce water consumption and save money.

We recently conducted a water consumption assessment at an apartment complex with 21 units. Between kitchen and bathroom faucets and showerheads, we found an average water consumption of 5.9 gallons per minute per unit at this apartment complex. By replacing aerators on the fixtures, we were able to reduce that to about 3 gallons per minute per unit, which adds up to about 60 gallons per minute of water saved.

We’ve found that upfront costs associated with installing high-efficiency faucet and showerhead aerators—something that can save thousands of gallons of water per year—can sometimes scare building managers, but the savings can be recouped in two to three water bills. It’s also important to repair leaky faucets and encourage tenants to turn off faucets and to report problems.

In addition to the faucets, toilets account for nearly one-third of building water consumption and one leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day. Flappers can deteriorate with age or develop mineral buildup causing a loose seal, and could be the reason for toilet leaks. To check if the toilet is leaking, simply use a dye tablet—they’re free from the hardware store—in the back of the toilet tank. If the dye leaks into the bowl, the toilet is leaking.

It’s a good idea to have exterior faucets controlled. Simply putting a key in a lockbox for access to the faucet can work. If tenants are allowed to water the lawn, it is worthwhile to put a timer on sprinklers as many times tenants can forget about them.