A Message from the AdministratorChristine Todd Whitman•Never use your toilet as a wastebasket•your teeth•
•ili•Before pouring water down the drain, considerother uses for it, such as watering a plant orgarden•Use the appropriate water level or load sizeselection on the washing machine•In the kitchen… ••
••Do not use water to defrost frozen foods; thaw•Use a dishpan for washing and rinsing dishes•using the garbage disposal•Operate the dishwasher only when completelyfullOutdoors… •Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps ratherthan hosing them off•commercial car wash that recycles water•When using a hose, control the flow with anautomatic shutoff nozzle•stant stream of water•Lower the water level in your pool to reduce theamount of water splashed out•Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation when thepool is not in useIn the bathroom… Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushingTake short showers instead of tub baths
Turn off the water flow wh e soap ng or shampooingIn the laundry… Wash full loads whenever possibleKeep drinking water in the refrigerator instead ofletting the faucet run until the water is cool
Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin
Use a vegetable brush to clean produceTake a tour of the Water Saver HomeTo learn more about what you can do in and around your home to use water
more efficiently, take a virtual tour of the Water Saver Home at www.h2ouse.org
on the Internet. With bold graphics, this web site provides user-friendly infor-
mation on water use inside and outside the average home. You can learn aboutwater-saving devices, opportunities to save water and energy, tips for buying efficient products, mainte-
nance and repair, and much more!The Water Saver Home was developed by the California Urban Water Conservation Council in coopera-
tion with EPA. The goal of the web site is to help homeowners learn how to use water efficiently.them in the refrigerator overnightAdd food wastes to your compost pile instead ofWash the car from a bucket, or consider using aAvoid purchasing water toys that require a con-What You Can DoI believe water is the biggest
environmental issue we face in
the 21st Century in terms of bothquality and quantity. In the 30
years since its passage, the Clean
Water Act has dramatically
increased the number ofwaterways that are once again safe for fishing and
swimming. Despite this great progress in reducing
water pollution, many of the nation’s waters still
do not meet water quality goals. I challenge you to
join President Bush and me to finish the business
of restoring and protecting our nation’s waters for
present and future generations.For More InformationFor more information, contact EPA’s Office of
Wastewater Management or visit EPA’s web site
at www.epa.gov/owm/genwave.htm. For more
information on ENERGY STAR clothes washers, visitwww.energystar.gov/products/clotheswashers.You may also contact:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Wastewater Management
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460202-564-0478United States Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Water (4101M)EPA 800-F-02-001 • June 2002Using Water Wisely in the HomeDid you know?•Fixing a toilet that silently leaks 500 gallons of
water per day might save nearly $1,000 per year.•Installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and
appliances can help a typical family
of four reduce indoor waterHow much do we spend on water?The typical family of four spends $820 per
year on water and sewer charges, but costscan be twice that or more in some places because
of higher rates or greater lawn watering and otheroutdoor uses. But that’s just part of the cost.Stop leaksCheck all water-using appliances, equipment,
and other devices for leaks. Running toilets,
steady faucet drips, home water treatment
units, and outdoor sprinkler systems are
common sources of leaks.The major water use inside the home is toiletoldflushing. If your home was built beforetoilets1992 and you haven’t replaced your toiletsinstalling high-efficiency toilets that use
1.6 gallons or less per flush. A family of
four can save 14,000 to 25,000 gallons of
water per year by making this change.oldin your home. If your clothes washer is old,clothesyou should consider purchasing a modelwashersENERGY STAR certification.ENERGY STAR washers use 35 to 50 percentless water and 50 percent less energy
per load.Plant theWhether you’re installing a new landscaperight
plantsthat are appropriate for your climate anddesign. Consider using xeriscaping, a land-
scaping technique designed to create a
visually attractive landscape by using
low-water-use and drought-resistant grass,one-half the water of a traditional landscape.only
the water
plantscontroller at least once a month to accountneedfor changes in the weather and install a rainThere are many ways to save water in and aroundyour home. Here are a few that might get the bestresults.Replacerecently, you probably could benefit fromReplaceWashers are the second largest water userwith EPA’sor changing the existing one, select plantsuse a suitable landscape and irrigationplants, shrubs, and trees. If maintained
properly, a xeriscape can use less thanProvideAutomatic landscape irrigation systems are
a home’s biggest water user. To make sure
you’re not overwatering, adjust your irrigationshutoff device, soil moisture sensor, or
humidity sensor to better control irrigation.Top Five Ways to Save Water efficiency plays an important role in
protecting water sources and improvingwater quality. By using water wisely, you can save
money and help protect our environment.Water efficiency means using less water to pro-
vide the same benefit. There are many ways to
increase water efficiency in your home—detecting
and fixing
leaky faucets,
installing
high-efficiency
clothes washers
and toilets,
and water-
ing the lawn
and garden with the minimum amount of water
needed. Since watering the landscape with an
automatic irrigation system is likely the single larg-
est use of water in the home, you can dramatically
improve water efficiency by using proper irrigation
and scheduling techniques such as cycling the
sprinklers.Although 80 percent
of the earth’s(6/1000) is available to be
used in the home.surface is covered by
water, only 0.6 percentUsing water-saving techniques not only can save
you hundreds of dollars per year but also can
reduce the amount of pollutants entering rivers,
lakes, and streams. In addition, efficient water use
can reduce water and wastewater treatment costs
and the amount of energy used to treat, pump, and
heat water. And it could help to ease the burden
on water resources during drought conditions.use by one-third, save
about $95 per year
on their water
and sewer bill,
and cut energy
use by as much
as 6 percent.•Currently, about
8 percent of U.S.American households also spend anaverage of $230 per year to heatwater. By changing applianceslike the dishwasher andclothes washer and inef-ficient fixtures like shower-
heads and toilets, a familyof four can save as muchas $210 per year in water,sewer, and energy costs.energy demand is used
to treat, pump, and heat water.
Using less water can lower energy demand,
thereby reducing the amount of pollutants
released from power plants.•Water heating accounts for 19 percent of home
energy use. If 20 percent of U.S. homes used
high-efficiency clothes washers, the national
energy savings would be enough to supply the
needs of more than 1 million homes.•Communities that institute broad water efficiency
programs have been able to reduce overall water
use by up to 20 percent, not only conserving water
supplies and reducing water pollution but also cut-
ting costs for new water and wastewater facilities.How much water do we use?Home water use varies considerably depend-
ing on household size, water use practices,climate, type of plumbing fixtures and appliances,
and a number of other factors. The two largest water
users are toilets and clothes washers. Note that nearly
14 percent of the water the typical homeowner pays
for is never used—it leaks down the drain.Outdoor water use averages about 117 gallons per
home per day, or about 37 percent of total home
water use. But outdoor use varies considerably by
climate zone and can be two to three times greater
than indoor water use in hot, dry areas of the
country. How we use water outdoors might offer
many opportunities for considerable savings.

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