Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Conserving Water While Living In An Apartment

Conserving Water While Living In An Apartment

By Dave Tarkanian


Even though apartment renters usually don't need to worry about watering a lawn, they still use quite a bit of water, just as every person does. When you factor in all the ways it's used (e.g. drinking, showers, toilet flushes, hand and dishwashing, plant water etc.) you might be surprised how much you use every day. Once you know how the water is put to use, you can then begin to make very simple home and lifestyle changes that help reduce both your water bill and your impact on the environment.

A simple step that can be taken is to change out the standard showerhead for a low-flow model. Many apartments standardize low-flow showerheads throughout the complex, but it's a good idea to get one if your apartment does not come stocked with one. It can be surprising how much water is saved with each shower. Another option you could try is to turn the water off while you shave or lather up. While you're at it, a specialized water heater that only heats water at the time is needed is a good way to save electricity.

Of the lifestyle changes you can make, getting into the routine of turning off the flow of water while doing things like brushing teeth or washing dishes can save gallons every year. It can help a lot to look for times when water is wasted, and taking steps to cut back during such instances.

Certain appliances might be taking more water than necessary. You may want to investigate the settings on items like the dishwasher and washing machine, and see if you adjust them to use less water. You might even be able to eliminate the step of rinsing dishes by using the right settings and detergent. With both laundry and dishes, it's good to wait until you have a full load before starting a cycle. You can look at any appliance that uses water, even small ones like coffee makers, and see if you can make small adjustments.

But what's often the biggest culprit in water consumption is the toilet. On some older toilets, a single flush can use around three gallons, which is more than most need. If your toilet uses too much water, a simple trick is to place an item in the toilet tank to take up space, such as shut container of small rocks. This will reduce the volume of water in the tank, and therefore, its usage.

This is an easily reversible change that won't harm the toilet, so long as you make sure that any small pieces are stable enough to not get sucked through the pipe.

When it rains, you can use that water to good effect on things that don't need fresh drinking water. Plants can be placed outside during a rain shower, and you can catch some of the rain for later use with a container of some kind. Water like that can even be used to clean some objects, like muddy boots or patio furniture that you intend to put away for the colder seasons.

While living in an apartment, there are plenty of ways you can save water with some creative thinking. Not only will your water bill be smaller, but you can have a helpful impact on the environment. If others see the measures you take to save water, they might even join in.




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