Make Every Drop CountMake Every Drop CountIn The HomeIn The Home

University of Nebraska – University of Nebraska – LincolnLincolnWritten by:Written by:

Shirley NiemeyerShirley Niemeyer

Extension Specialist. Housing & EnvironmentExtension Specialist. Housing & Environment

Sharon SkiptonSharon Skipton

Extension Water Quality EducatorExtension Water Quality Educator

Why Be Efficient?Why Be Efficient?

Aging infrastructureAging infrastructure– Limited capacityLimited capacity– Increased cost to update or Increased cost to update or

replace replace

Limited resourcesLimited resources

Water Use in the HomeWater Use in the Home

Amount:Amount:70 to 100 70 to 100 gallons/person/daygallons/person/day

Where:Where: Toilet Toilet 42%42% Washing machineWashing machine 14%14% Shower/bath Shower/bath 30%30% Dishwashing Dishwashing 6% 6% Drinking/cookingDrinking/cooking 5% 5%

Becoming More Becoming More EfficientEfficient

Make physical changesMake physical changes

Make practice changesMake practice changes

ToiletToiletPhysical changesPhysical changes Install low-flush toilets Install low-flush toilets

January 1, 1994 – 1.6 gallons January 1, 1994 – 1.6 gallons

vs. 3.5 gallons or more vs. 3.5 gallons or more on on older toiletsolder toilets– Pressure, vacuum, jet Pressure, vacuum, jet

actionaction– Dual-flush toiletsDual-flush toilets– Waterless urinalWaterless urinal

ToiletToiletPhysical changesPhysical changes

– Check water pressure Check water pressure

required for toilet typerequired for toilet type

Pressure-assistPressure-assist– Vessel in tank pushes water through Vessel in tank pushes water through

bowl quickly. Louder, good performance. bowl quickly. Louder, good performance.

Pressure assist toiletPressure assist toilet

ToiletToilet Vacuum-assistVacuum-assist

– Similar to gravity flush. Design Similar to gravity flush. Design creates vacuum to help pull waste creates vacuum to help pull waste through bowl. Quickly fills with water through bowl. Quickly fills with water to clear waste. Quiet. to clear waste. Quiet.

Photo: www.peaktoprairie.com

ToiletToilet Jet actionJet action

– Water entry at bowl top. Has a Water entry at bowl top. Has a siphon jet at bottom of bowl to siphon jet at bottom of bowl to improve flush. improve flush.

Gravity-feed (standard toilet - Gravity-feed (standard toilet - most common)most common)– Rely on water dropping from tank Rely on water dropping from tank

into the bowl and trap to move into the bowl and trap to move waste down the drain. waste down the drain.

ToiletToilet Dual-flush toilets: Dual-flush toilets:

– Liquids - 0.8 Liquids - 0.8 – Solids - 1 gallon Solids - 1 gallon

Waterless urinal orWaterless urinal or

low water use urinallow water use urinal

ToiletToilet

Practice changesPractice changes Add plastic container or toilet Add plastic container or toilet

damdam Don’t use as trash canDon’t use as trash can

Photo: Photo: Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

ToiletToilet

Check toilet for leaksCheck toilet for leaks Repair leaksRepair leaks

Washing MachineWashing Machine

Physical changesPhysical changes Install high-efficiency washerInstall high-efficiency washer

– 27 gallons per load vs. 40 gallons27 gallons per load vs. 40 gallons– SensorsSensors– High-pressure rinseHigh-pressure rinse

Look forLook for

Energy Star labelEnergy Star label

Washing MachineWashing Machine

Practice changesPractice changes Wash full loadsWash full loads Adjust water level to loadAdjust water level to load

Shower/BathShower/BathPhysical changesPhysical changes Install low-flow Install low-flow

showerheadsshowerheadsPost 1994 – 2.5 Post 1994 – 2.5 gallons/minute vs. gallons/minute vs. 6 to 8 gallons6 to 8 gallons

Shut-off switchShut-off switch

Shower/BathShower/Bath

Practice changePractice change Take short showersTake short showers Shut off flowShut off flow Use lower bathtub levelUse lower bathtub level Close tub drain stopper – Close tub drain stopper –

adjust temperature as tub fillsadjust temperature as tub fills

FaucetsFaucets

Physical changePhysical change Install efficient faucetsInstall efficient faucets

2 gallons/minute2 gallons/minute

vs. 3 to 5 gallonsvs. 3 to 5 gallons

Install faucet aeratorsInstall faucet aerators

Reduce use by up to 60%Reduce use by up to 60%

FaucetsFaucetsPractice changePractice change Shut off flowShut off flow Keep water in refrigeratorKeep water in refrigerator

for cold drinkfor cold drink Repair leaksRepair leaks Reduce garbage Reduce garbage

disposal usedisposal use

Look for the new WaterSense labelLook for the new WaterSense label

DishwashersDishwashersPhysical changesPhysical changes Install water-efficient Install water-efficient

dishwasherdishwasher

6 to 7 gallons/load vs. 14 6 to 7 gallons/load vs. 14 gallonsgallons

Look for:Look for:– Energy Star label Energy Star label – Adjustable loadsAdjustable loads

DishwashersDishwashers

Practice changesPractice changes Wash full loadsWash full loads Adjust soil control settingAdjust soil control setting Don’t pre-rinseDon’t pre-rinse

Look for WaterSense Look for WaterSense logo logo

NewNew EPA-sponsored EPA-sponsored certification certification programprogram

VoluntaryVoluntary

Indicates a product Indicates a product or service is about or service is about 20% more efficient 20% more efficient that its counterpartthat its counterpart

Look for logo onLook for logo on

• Bathroom sink faucetsBathroom sink faucets

• Faucet aeratorsFaucet aerators

• ShowerheadsShowerheads

Assess your water use!Assess your water use!

Use the evaluation form to assess Use the evaluation form to assess your own water use.your own water use.

Assess your practices again later Assess your practices again later and return the form to: and return the form to: – S. Niemeyer, Rm 205 HE, East S. Niemeyer, Rm 205 HE, East

Campus, UNL, Lincoln NE 68583-Campus, UNL, Lincoln NE 68583-0804 or to0804 or to

– Your local extension officeYour local extension office

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Equipment for photos Equipment for photos provided by: provided by: – Service Reps. Inc. OmahaService Reps. Inc. Omaha– Ferguson, OmahaFerguson, Omaha– Schaefer’s, LincolnSchaefer’s, Lincoln

Photos: Photos: – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln,

S. NiemeyerS. Niemeyer