| For many families conserving water is one way to | | | | forget about your outdoor faucets. |
| live "greener" more environmentally friendly lives. But | | | | To see if any of your toilets are leaking simply add |
| saving water is much more important than simply | | | | food coloring to the tank part of the toilet. If you |
| being conscious of our planet; it directly affects your | | | | notice color in the bowl after a few minutes the |
| local water supply and water bills as well. If everyone | | | | toilet valve is leaking. Luckily, this is a quick and very |
| starting conserving water by implementing just a few | | | | inexpensive fix. If your toilet is an older model, you |
| basic ideas than many localities wouldn't have the | | | | may want to put a large jar in the tank to help save |
| water supply shortages they are faced with now. | | | | water for each flush. If you are really green you can |
| Families would be saving money because their bills | | | | emulate some of the more remote locations I've |
| would be lower and no one's life would be significantly | | | | been which only flush if you are going "number two". |
| affected by these changes. Interested? Here are a | | | | Of course, most people already know to only run |
| few water saving ideas. | | | | their dishwasher or washing machine when they are |
| The fastest way to decrease your water usage is to | | | | full, yet it is so tempting just to run "a quick load". |
| check for leaks. Oftentimes, the water that is | | | | Hand washing one or more "quick" items not only |
| wasted the most is simply dripping out of a faucet or | | | | saves water it also keeps your clothes in better |
| pipe, useless to you and driving your bills up. To | | | | shape. To hand wash dishes, fill one bucket or sink |
| check for water leaks, turn all water appliances off in | | | | with soapy water and the other with rinse water |
| your home - no dishwasher, automatic ice maker, | | | | instead of running the tap. A small gesture, but one |
| etc. Then check the reading on your water meter | | | | that could save you hundreds of gallons a year. Even |
| outside your house. After an hour of "water silence" | | | | small changes that won't affect your life very much |
| check the meter again. If your house is leak free the | | | | can make a big difference in the amount of water |
| number should be the same. Any difference and you | | | | you can save. |
| have a leak. When checking faucets for drips, don't | | | | |