Water Wellness
Did you know that the average American uses around 82 gallons of water per day? That’s enough to fill two standard bathtubs! The World Bank predicts that by 2025, two-thirds of the global population will run short of fresh drinking water. To ensure the longevity of the world’s freshwater supply, it is important to look closely at our personal water consumption. Small changes, like being more mindful about your water-use habits and adopting water-saving appliances, can make a big impact.
Easy Ways to Conserve Water at Home
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense page offers numerous practical tips on conserving water without sacrificing performance or comfort!
See below for some of the actionable steps the EPA describes.
Check for Leaks, and Fix Them
Leaks are one of the most common causes of wasted water in households!
A faucet that drips once per second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water per year—that’s about the same amount of water needed to take 180 showers. So regularly check your kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor faucets for leaks, and fix them as soon as possible.
Install WaterSense-Labeled Products
WaterSense-labeled products, such as showerheads, faucets, and toilets, are designed to use at least 20% less water than standard models.
If every home in the U.S. installed WaterSense-labeled showerheads, it could save 260 billion gallons of water annually—enough to meet the water needs of 2.6 million households for a year.
Use Water-Efficient Appliances
Modern ENERGY STAR® certified dishwashers use as little as 3 gallons of water per cycle, compared to the 6-10 gallons used by older models.
Over the course of a year, switching to a water-efficient toilet, for example, could save around 13,000 gallons of water annually, and switching to a water-efficient showerhead could save around 2,700 gallons annually!
Harvest Rainwater & Plant Native Species
Utilizing rainwater is a helpful alternative to running sprinkler systems in the summer to water flowers and personal gardens. This can be done by using rain barrels, allowing you to spend less on your monthly water bill and save precious potable water reserves. Additionally, planting native species in your local area typically requires less water. Native species are more adapted to the region and drought-resistant. Their deep root systems can tap into water deep below the topsoil.
What's in Your Water?
The quality of the water you consume is just as important as how much you use, so the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database allows users to enter their ZIP code and search for information on water quality in their area!
The database also contains information on contaminants like lead, arsenic, or chlorine byproducts, and tips on how to reduce exposure to them.
Indiana Well Water Testing
If you're a private well owner, regular water safety testing should be a part of your regimen! The Indiana Department of Health recommends annual water tests to identify issues before they become serious health risks.
If contamination is found, the Indiana Department of Health's Well Water Quality and Testing page has some helpful guidelines for water treatment and safety.