Conservation


As part of a desert ecosystem, we tend to be more aware of the importance of water. However, climate change and growing worldwide populations have made water conservation a dominant issue for everyone. This page contains information on water usage and provides links to other resources that can educate and help average citizens be more aware of, as well as making smarter choices and being more responsible when it comes to consumption of one of our most precious resources. 
Here are some surprising facts about water usage
  1. Americans now use 127 percent more water than we did in 1950.
  2. About 95 percent of the water entering our homes goes down the drain.
  3. Running the tap while brushing your teeth can waste 4 gallons of water.
  4. Older toilets can use 3 gallons of clean water with every flush, while new toilets use as little as 1 gallon.
  5. Leaky faucets that drip at the rate of one drop per second can waste up to 2,700 gallons of water each year.
  6. A garden hose or sprinkler can use almost as much water in an hour as an average family of four uses in one day.
  7. A water-efficient dishwasher will use as little as 4 gallons per wash cycle, whereas some older models use up to 13 gallons per cycle.
  8. Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water use goes to waste due to evaporation or runoff caused by over-watering.
  9. Many people in the world exist on 3 gallons of water per day or less. We can use that amount in one flush of the toilet.
  10. Over a quarter of all the clean, drinkable water you use in your home is used to flush the toilets.
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For more information...

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 What is the average water usage for some daily household activities?  
Bath 40 gallons
5-minute shower 10 gallons
Brushing teeth with tap running 2 gallons/minute
Brushing teeth with tap off 0.25 gallon
One toilet flush (older, less efficient models) 3 gallons 
One toilet flush (newer, water-efficient models) 1 gallon
Washing one load of clothes (older, less efficient models)  30-40 gallons
Washing one load of clothes (newer, water-efficient models)  13-25 gallons 
Dishwasher (older, less efficient models)  10 gallons
Dishwasher (newer, water-efficient models) 4 gallons
Using hose or sprinkler
 140 gallons/hour
Washing car with bucket  
 3 gallons
Source: Clift, J. & Cuthbert, A. Water - Use Less, Save More. Chelsea Green Publishing, 2007.

Try the Home Water Calculator to estimate your usage. Click here...

usage calculator