While most people associate home improvements with expensive projects, there are dozens of easy fixes you can make around the house to help conserve water. Here are a few examples:

INSULATE YOUR WATER HEATER: Just like insulating your windows, walls, or attic, insulating your water heater is a fast and easy way to save money on your energy bill. If you have an older water heater, you could save as much as $45 per year by installing a water heater blanket, a process that shouldn’t take more than 2 hours.  Water conservation is achieved by less time spent waiting for the water to warm up.

INSTALL LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEADS: According to the EPA, the average family could save 2,900 gallons of water each year by switching to WaterSense* shower heads.  Most shower heads have a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), but a low-flow shower head is only 1.5 gpm, and offers the same amount of pressure and comfort, just with less water.  

If every home in the US switched to low-flow shower heads, the country could conserve up to 260 billion gallons of water every year.  The best part about low-flow showerheads? They’re quite inexpensive. You can find them for as little as $10!

INVEST IN LOW-FLOW SINK FAUCETS: WaterSense sink faucets can save about 700 gallons of water per household each year. That’s the same amount of water used to take 40 showers. Sink faucets are slightly more difficult to replace on your own, but if you love to DIY, it’s a great task to tackle.

USE WATER-EFFICIENT TOILETS: Replacing inefficient toilets can reduce a family’s water use by up to 13,000 gallons per year.  WaterSense certified toilets start at around $100, and installing one is a surprisingly simple task for most. You can find many tutorial videos on the web by searching the phrase “toilet replacement.” 

Additionally, the City of Turlock offers a $75 rebate for replacing older toilets with new, high-efficiency models that meet WaterSense specifications.

To learn more water conservation ideas, visit the City’s website at www.CityofTurlock.org or contact the Municipal Services Department at (209) 668-5590. Brought to you by the City of Turlock Municipal Services Department.

CONSERVATION TIP

Repair leaks: Small leaks can add up quickly. One drip per second can add up to five gallons per day, which can add up to nearly two thousand gallons of wasted water each year.