Use Water Wisely

The Water Cycle

Nature is always moving water through the air and land, so that the water we use is constantly recycled. The water cycle includes these steps:

Evaporation—The sun heats water in rivers, lakes, and the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam, which then rises into the air.

Condensation—The vapor cools and turns into tiny water droplets that attach to each other and form clouds.

Precipitation—Water falls from the clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Runoff—Some water stays on the earth’s surface and flows into rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc.

Percolation—Other water seeps down into the earth’s natural underground reservoirs called aquifers. Then the cycle begins again, as water from the earth’s surface evaporates into the air.

Where Your Water Goes

The average person uses approximately 60 gallons of water per day. That’s more than enough to fill two big bathtubs! (You use less if your home has water-saving showerheads, faucets, toilets, and a water-saving washing machine.)

On a typical day, here’s where your 60 gallons goes:

• 21 gallons (34%) is used for baths and showers.
• 18 gallons (29%) is used to flush the toilet.
• 12 gallons (19%) is used for laundry.
• 8 gallons (13%) is used in the kitchen.
• 3 gallons (5%) is used outdoors.

Some water isn’t put to use at all! The average family loses approximately 14% of their water usage through leaks. A water faucet that leaks one drip per second will waste about 2400 gallons per year, while a toilet that runs after flushing can waste up to 53,000 gallons of water in a year.

After water leaves your home, it is treated at a wastewater treatment plant or by your septic system. The water is cleaned and then released into the environment.

How YOU Can Save Water

Here are some ways you can use water more efficiently. Share these tips with your family.

1. Brush Teeth Wisely
   Turn off the water while you brush your teeth, and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
2. Don’t Waste Drinking Water
   Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until the water becomes cold.
3. Use Less Water for Dishes
   Scrape your dishes clean to reduce rinsing. Run the dishwasher only when it’s full. If you wash by hand, use basins rather than running water.
4. Wash Hands Efficiently
   Turn off the water while you soap your hands, and rinse briefly.
5. Flush Only When Necessary
   Put paper, insects, hair, and other such waste into the garbage can rather than in the toilet. Every time you avoid flushing the toilet it saves many gallons of water.
6. Stop Leaks
   Turn off water faucets tightly so they don’t drip. If you find a water fountain at school that won’t turn off, a leaky faucet, or a toilet that keeps running, tell the custodian. If you find a drippy faucet at home, tell an adult.
7. Wash Clothes Wisely
   Make sure your clothes are truly dirty before putting them into the hamper. Wash clothes only when you have a full load, and use cold water whenever possible. Washing in cold works just as well as using hot or warm—and it uses less energy.
8. Don’t Overwater
   Remind adults to water the lawn only once a week for no more than an hour—less if it rains; to water lawns in the early morning or late evening to limit evaporation; and to keep grass about 2 1/2 inches high. Taller grass shades the roots and holds moisture better.
9. Sweep to Save
   Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean off sidewalks and driveways.
10. Wash Cars Wisely
    Wash your car at a car wash so the soapy water can be properly recycled. If you do it yourself, use a shutoff nozzle on your hose to limit water waste when soaping your car. You can save over 100 gallons this way.
11. Collect Unused Water
    Place a bucket in an unused shower or sink to collect the water while you’re waiting for it to heat up. The collected water can then be used for plants and clean-up jobs.
12. Install Water-Saving Fixtures
    Water-efficient showerheads, faucets, and toilets can save hundreds of gallons per year.