Using Water Wisely

As drought conditions persist in Kansas, conserving water will only become more important. To avoid future water shortages, we need to use water wisely, whatever the weather. Saving water is easy and can save you time and money too.

Water-saving tips

  • Fix leaks in all plumbing fixtures, including toilets, faucets, and showerheads.
  • Upgrade to high-efficiency models and install aerators to cut down on the water amount but not the pressure.
  • Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Energy Star dishwashers save even more.
  • Run your dishwasher only when it’s full. 
  • Take short showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.
  • Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. 
  • Also check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks. 
  • Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.
toilet.jpg

Check toilets for leaks

95% of water leaks are due to leaky toilets. Toilets can leak in six different ways; some cannot be seen or heard. DYE TEST every toilet when checking for leaks:

  1. First, take the lid off the tank. The tank water is your next flush water. (The tank water is supposed to stay securely in the tank until the toilet is flushed.)
  2. Add several drops of food coloring to the tank water until it is a strong color.
  3. Put the lid back on the tank and flip the seat up so you can see the water in the toilet bowl. (If the coloring is already in the toilet bowl, you have a bad leak. Turn off that toilet until you can fix it.)
  4. DO NOT FLUSH FOR ONE HOUR.
  5. Continue to monitor the bowl several times during the hour. If the colored tank water makes its way to the bowl, you have a leak.
  6. If, after one hour, the color remains in the tank and the water in the bowl is clear, the toilet is not leaking.
  7. Repeat this test on all toilets in your home.
  8. If you find a toilet leak, replace the parts in the tank and run the dye test one more time to be sure everything is installed securely.

Little leaks add up

A leak from
a hole this size...		 ...would waste this
many cubic feet of
water per month 
 1/4" 52,626 
 3/16" 29,053 
1/8"  13,190 
1/16"  3,297 

 

 

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