Summer heat brings higher water bills. Water usage increases with outdoor watering. There are steps you can take to lower your usage indoor and outdoor.

The biggest water user in the average American home is the toilet, especially if the toilet was produced before 1992. Each time you flush the toilet, you are using three to seven gallons of water.  By switching to a newer model, you could potentially save as much as four thousand gallons of water per person per year!

Washing Machines: The old top loading machines use 30 to 40 gallons of water every time you wash a load, whereas the front loading washers only use between 12 and 15 gallons. Front loaders are also able to wring out a lot more excess water from your clothes, so when you are ready to put them in the dryer, the clothes will not take as long to dry which, in turn, will help to lower your electric bill.

The Shower: Some of the showerheads that we use can use as much as ten gallons of water a minutes. The EPA has a program called Water Sense, which is similar to the Energy Star program. The EPA guideline for a Water Sense showerhead is that is must not surpass two gallons of water a minute. So, if you switch to a showerhead that complies with the Water Sense guidelines, you could be saving up to 80 percent per minute! Of course, another way to save water in the shower is to either take shorter showers or sing shorter songs while in the shower.

Overwatering: Turf takes more water than most things in the landscape, and people grossly overwater it. Depending on the variety of grass, it needs between one and one and a half inches every five to ten days.

Watering Systems: If you have an in-ground watering system, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are wasting water, it just makes it easier to do so. It is recommended that, to conserve water, you install a rain and freeze sensor. It will keep your irrigation system from water the grass when it rained the day before. Sometimes people will set up their watering system to automatically water their yard which can waste water, so fight the urge to set the timer and water only when needed.

Water Leaks: American Waterworks Association estimates that 14 percent of the water usage in the average American’s water bill is due to leaks.  If you see a dripping faucet, look to see if it can be fixed simply by tightening or see if it needs a new washer. Another area that sees water loss is the gasket that goes between the tank and bowl of the toilet called the flapper valve. If you have a “shhh” noise when the toilet hasn’t been flushed, it is most likely that water is linking from the tank to the bowl and then going right back out again. These leaks can lose up to 200 gallons of water a day. Also, be warned that, just because you don’t hear a “shhh”, that doesn’t mean that your toilet isn’t leaking. It is recommended that you check for a leak by taking the top off the tank, put in a couple of drops of food coloring into the tank, put the lid back on and let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. If there is any color in the toilet bowl, that means you have a leak. But don’t be alarmed! These leaks are pretty easy to fix.

http://www.fortworthgov.org/savefwwater/irrigation/default.aspx?id=63590

Seasonal Lawn Water Requirements

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service recommends different lawn watering frequencies for each season. One inch of water is recommended throughout the year, however, the frequency varies by season.

• Winter: Every 15 to 20 days
• Spring: Every 10 to 15 days
• Summer: Every 5 to 7 days
• Fall: Every 10 to 15 days

Following this schedule will help you water efficiently all year long.

http://www.fortworthgov.org/savefwwater/irrigation/default.aspx?id=63572