4 Big Myths About Water Conservation
Water conservation is a hot topic these days, and for good reason –water is an invaluable life-sustaining resource.
As the earth’s population continues to swell, there’s a greater need for water. In some parts of the world, water pollution is on the rise due to industry, agricultural runoff, and improper disposal of waste. Scarcity of clean water can have major impacts on the global economy, underscoring the need for conservation.
However, myths about water conservation abound!
We’re highlighting four of the most common myths about water conservation and why they are false.
Myth 1: Water conservation isn’t necessary in regions where it rains a lot. Even if it may seem like it, water resources don’t last forever! In rainy areas, water conservation is still vital to keep a sustainable balance between water availability and demand. Plus, droughts and shifting water patterns can happen without warning, which can lead to temporary water shortages. In those cases, water conservation becomes critically important!
Myth 2: It’s too expensive to buy water efficient appliances, and they aren’t worth the money anyway.
The Environmental Protection Agency reports that replacing old, inefficient faucets and aerators with WaterSense-labeled models can save the average family 700 gallons of water per year.
And overall, low-flow fixtures can result in up to 60% water savings. So, depending on your standard water usage and your selected low-flow fixtures, you could save $200 or more a year on your water bill.
In other words, if every home in the United States replaced standard faucets and aerators with WaterSense-labeled models, 69 billion gallons of water and $1.3 billion in water and energy costs would be saved every single year.
You can save water and water-heating bills every day by installing:
- Low-flow toilets. Compared to standard toilets that can use up to six gallons of water per flush (GPF), a low-flow toilet uses less than 1.5.
- Low-flow shower heads. Standard showerheads use up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute (GPM), whereas low-flow shower heads use less than two.
- Low-flow sink faucets. A standard faucet uses an average of up to 3 GPM. Low-flow faucets don’t exceed 1.5 GPM.
READ MORE: Should I Be Using Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures?
Myth 3: Leaky faucets are no big deal. Some homeowners think small leaks are insignificant, but even a slow drip from a faucet or a minor pipe leak can add up to major water waste. A faucet that releases a drip per second doesn’t sound like much, but you can end up wasting more than 3,000 gallons per year, according to the EPA. Likewise, a showerhead that leaks 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons of water per year.
Myth 4: Water conservation is inconvenient. You might assume that water conservation tactics mean restrictions on daily activities like showering or watering your garden. This couldn’t be further from the truth! For example, installing efficient plumbing fixtures reduces your water usage without negatively impacting the appliance’s performance. A low-flow faucet uses aerating technology to distribute the water without losing any pressure. Adopting simple habits like turning off the tap when you’re bushing your teeth can also help you conserve water without cramping your style.
We hope this helped you understand the importance of water conservation! If you want to install low-flow plumbing fixtures in your home, or have a persistent leak that you need to have fixed, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing at 1-877-BEN-1776, or contact us online.