May 3, 2004

COLLEGE STATION – Little kids ask for a last drink of water before going to bed. Food is boiled or simmered or stewed. Clothes and dishes are washed several times a day. Sprinkler systems come on automatically.

Water is such a fact of life that it's easy to forget it's also an absolute necessity.

That's why conserving water at home is so important, said Janie Harris, Texas Cooperative Extension housing and environment specialist.

"Imagine what it would be like to turn on the tap and not get at least a drop of water," she said. "People in some parts of the country know this does happen. Water shortages are now a local or regional problem. Someday they may be a national problem."

Conserving water does more than preserve a vital natural resource, she said. It also conserves energy and money.

"Energy is required to pump, move and purify water," she said. "Both energy and money are required to heat water – whether it is the water we heat and use or the water we heat and waste through poor management practices."

Conservation begins with awareness, Harris said. Studies show water use at home usually runs between 66 gallons and 118 gallons per person per day, with urban households more likely to use larger amounts.

Any way you pour it, that's an enormous amount of water. The best way to conserve it is to stop wasting it, Harris said. Some of her suggestions are:

- Inspect the plumbing system to check for leaks. If any are found, fix them immediately.

- Install reduced-flow showerheads.

- If leaving for a vacation or trip, turn off all water. This will prevent anyone from turning on outside faucets while you are gone and will eliminate the worry of burst pipes.

- To check for a leak in the toilet, put a small amount of food coloring in the tank. If the color trickles into the bowl, repairs are needed.

- Replace old toilets with 1.6-gallon flush toilets. Or reduce the amount of water used in older toilets by filling a one-quart plastic (not glass, which can break) bottle with water and putting it in the tank. This will save a quart of water per flush. (Don't use a brick for this purpose since particles from the brick can damage the valve.)

- Don't wash partial loads of clothes in high water levels. If smaller loads must be washed, change the setting of the water level to low or medium.

- Limit shower time to four minutes per shower. Even more water can be saved if some showers are replaced with sponge baths.

- Turn the water off while shaving, brushing teeth and doing other grooming tasks. Turn the water on only when it's needed.

- When peeling and/or cleaning produce, use a pan of water instead of letting the tap run.

- Limit the use of the garbage disposal. Save scraps and run the disposal unit once or save the scraps for a compost pile.

- Use a pressure cooker to save time, water and energy.

- Keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator for instant cold drinking water.

- Save leftover vegetable juices to make stews, soups and gravy. Use syrups and juices from canned fruits for making gelatin salads and for drinking.

- Wash only full loads in the dishwasher. Most dishwashers use between 9 and 13 gallons per cycle.

- Scrape dishes if necessary before placing them in the dishwasher. Avoid unnecessary rinsing.

- When washing dishes by hand, use a pan of soapy water for washing and a second pan of clear hot water for rinsing.

- Wipe up small spills when they happen so the entire floor won't have to be mopped.

- Do household chores together to save water. Clean lightly-soiled surfaces first – such as mirrors, walls and woodwork – and floors last.

- Water indoor plants only when needed.

- Wash the car less often. Or better yet, take advantage of a soft summer rain – get out there with a soap and sponge and let the rain do the rinse job.

- Minimize landscape water needs by planting native plants and those that require less water.

- Use trickle or drip irrigation in outdoor gardens. These methods use 25 percent to 50 percent less water than a hose or sprinkler.

- Water the garden thoroughly but not as often. And don't let water run down the driveway or into the street.

- When choosing new appliances or plumbing fixtures, select models that are designed to help save water.

For more information this and other housing issues, visit Extension's Family and Consumer Sciences Web site at: http://fcs.tamu.edu/, and click on the link to housing and environment.