Tips for home water savings
Water costs more than you think. You pay for it when it comes out of the faucet, of course. But you also pay to heat it and to get rid of it when it runs down the drain.
Save energy
- Set water heater temperatures appropriately (120 degrees)
- Replace a failing 50 gallon water heater with a smaller one. Or go tankless. Or install a solar water heating system.
Save water and improve water quality
- Install low-flow fixtures, including low-flow showerheads.
- Install low flush or no flush toilets.
- Fix leaks (toilets, faucets).
- Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
- Let nature water your lawn and flowers. If you have automatic sprinklers, make sure that they're not running while it's raining. If you don't have automatic sprinklers, use soaker hoses and drip irrigation to efficiently water landscape plantings. Or install rain barrels so you can use rain water.
- Use native plants in your landscaping. Work with your local gardening group, park district, or university extension to identify likely candidates.
- Plant a rain garden to allow rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas the opportunity to be absorbed by the soil.
Monitor changes in your water bill to calculate savings as you make changes. The links below will help you get started. For information about more water efficient landscaping, see the Lawn and Garden page.
-
Reduce Flooding & Water Pollution with Rain Gardens and Native PlantsRain gardens and native plants incorporated into home and business landscapes can help to reduce localized flooding, improve local water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and much more. Learn how to consider natural options to handle rain runoff and walk through the recent renovation of the Red Oak Rain Garden, one of the premier rain gardens in Illinois that helps to inform outreach by Illinois Extension.
-
Water Conservation at HomeConserving water can be simple with the right items in place and a few small habit changes. We all know the obvious “turn the water off” ways to save water, but what about considering water quality and how you can save some of the energy it takes to get water to your tap? This webinar originally aired April 17, 2023 and was made possible by Illinois American Water part of the Clean Water Conservation Webinar Series.
-
Water Footprint CalculatorYour water footprint includes your tap water use and the “virtual water” used to produce your food, electricity, gas and home goods. Use this tool to find your footprint.
-
WaterSenseWaterSense, a partnership program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services.
-
Your Water Footprint
by
ISBN: 9781770854994Publication Date: 2014-10-17Text and infographics explain how much water it takes to produce an item or carry out an activity, and offer tips on saving water.
