Did you know that though 75% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% of it is available for us to use? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the rest is salt water, is frozen in polar ice caps and glaciers or is locked up in inaccessible locations underground. With demand outstripping supply, 36 states expect some degree of water shortage by 2013.
The average person uses 100 gallons of water a day, according to the EPA. Did you know that a five-minute shower takes only 10 to 25 gallons of water while a full tub requires about 70 gallons? Quite a saving possible right there.
Leaky faucets that drip one drop per second can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water a year. If you think you may have a hidden leak, read your water meter before and after a two-hour interval when no water is being used; if the meter is not reading the same both times, you probably have a leak.
A leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day; to check it out, first lift tank cover and observe if water is overflowing into overflow tube. This indicates that your fill valve is leaking add a few drops of food coloring to the tank; if there’s a leak, you’ll see color in the bowl within 15 minutes. This indicates that your tank ball or flapper is worn. Be sure to flush promptly to avoid any possibility of staining. If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier, it probably uses 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush; new high-efficiency toilets use less than 1.3 gallons per flush. More savings.
PAMCANI (The Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Authority of Northern Illinois) is comprised of over 400 union contractors and sustaining members who provide and maintain plumbing, heating and cooling systems for institutional, commercial, business and residential applications. This non-profit trade organization invests over $3 million annually in the promotion, advancement, education and training of apprentices, journeymen and contractors, and actively works to raise awareness about water and energy conservation. Headquartered in Downers Grove, PAMCANI covers DuPage, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Lake and McHenry Counties.