Most of Florida’s water is in underground aquifers. With a skyrocketing population tapping into that supply more and more each year, it’s projected that the Sarasota-Bradenton area will likely experience drinking water shortages as soon as 2040 if residents don’t take steps to curb excessive water usage. Conserving water in the home is one way you can help deter these shortages.
According to Jackie Lebouitz, water conservation is “inexpensive to basically free.”
Lebouitz, the Water Resources Program Assistant for University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), visited Longboat Key town hall on March 28 to lead a presentation on the importance of conserving water at home.
How is water being used in homes?
Here’s the breakdown from Water Research Foundation on how water is used in a typical home:
- 50%+ of water in the home is used for irrigation
- 24% of water is used for flushing the toilet
- 20% is used for showering
- 19% is used by faucets
- 17% is used by laundry machines
- 12% of water is consumed by leaks
- 8% is used by other means
How can Air & Energy plumbers help you with conserving water?
Low-flow high-efficiency toilets
Toilets account for 24% of a typical home’s water usage and are the second largest consumer behind irrigation. Air & Energy plumbers can help you save water by replacing older, less efficient toilets with up-to-date low-flow models. If you have an early model low-flow toilet from the 1990s or 2000s, you may find that today’s models offer even more efficient water usage.
Fixing leaks
Lebouitz makes a point in her presentation that “if it uses water, it can leak.”
Once again toilets are on the top of the list, this time for being one of the most common sources of leaks. While we recommend contacting a professional leak detection company to determine where water leaks are in your home, Lebouitz does have one easy way to test your toilet tank for leakage. Drop some food dye into your toilet’s water tank and wait for thirty minutes. If food coloring shows up in the toilet bowl, you may have a leaky toilet. In that case, it’s probably time to call a plumber to either repair or replace it.
If you’re interested in replacing old fixtures to conserve more water in your home, you’re welcome to call the Air & Energy office and ask about options. We’re always happy to help!
