Household Water Conservation
Where is Water Used in PA?
Water Use (million gallons per day)
2000
1500
Consumptive Non-Consumptive
1000
Thermoelectric (not shown) = 5,930
500
0
Commercial Domestic Industrial Mining Livestock Irrigation
Shifting Population Changes Local Water Use
~20,000 new wells each year
Wells Drilled 1960-1994
Household Water Use in PA
• 1900
– 5 million residents – 5 gallons per person per day
• 1995
– 12 million residents – 62 gallons per person per day
Where is Water Used in the Home
(69.3 gallons per person per day)
Dishwasher 1% Leaks 14% Faucet 16% Toilet 28%
Shower/Bath 19%
Washer 22%
Why Conserve Water?
• Save money !!
– Energy savings (from heating water) – Water savings (for those that pay for water)
• Conserve your supply for later use • Rebates
– Some utilities offer incentives for conservation
• Reduce the load to your septic or sewer system • Make environmentally conscious decisions when possible
Achieving Water Conservation
• Changes in habits
– Little or no cost – Quick effect – Usually temporary
• Water-saving appliances, fixtures
– – – – Can be expensive Most are easily installed Very effective Permanent
Changes in Habits
•Often touted during droughts •Examples •Shorter showers •Wait for full laundry loads •Less frequent toilet flushing •Reduce outdoor watering •No car washing
Toilets
•Largest user of water in most homes •Average use = 5.1 flushes per person per day •Conventional = 4 to 5 gallons per flush (gpf) •New toilets = 1.6 gpf
•1.6 gpf toilets have been required since 1994
Clothes Washers
•Average use = 2.6 loads per week per person •Conventional = 45 to 51 gallons per load (gpl) •Front-loading = 27 gpl •Disadvantages •More expensive initially •Bending to get clothes •Longer wash time •Advantages •Significant energy savings •Less detergent •Less drying needed •Larger load capacity •Cleaner clothes •Less wear and tear on clothes
Dish Washer
•50% of homes have one •Similar water use to hand-washing •Average use = about 1 load per week per person •Conventional = about 11 gallons per load •Water efficient = 4 to 7 gpl
Other Water-Saving Toilets
Composting toilet and composter
•Mostly commercial or recreational uses •Air-assisted •Utilizes air compressor •About 0.5 gallons per flush •Noisy •Composting •No water use •Requires careful maintenance •Best for low-use situations
Air-assisted
Faucets
•Average use = 4 minutes per day per person •Conventional = 3 to 6 gallons per minute
•Low-volume = 1.5 gallons per minute (as low as 0.5 gpm for bathroom)
•Very inexpensive •2.5 gpm faucets required since 1994
Showerheads
•Average use = 8 minutes per day per person •Conventional = 3 to 6 gallons per minute
•Low-volume = 2 to 2.5 gallons per minute
•Some have manual shut-off for extra savings •Very inexpensive
•Savings depend on habits also
•2.5 gpm showerhead required since 1994
Effect of Water Conservation
25
Water Use (gallons per day)
20 15 10 5 0
Toilet Washer Shower
Without Conservation With Conservation
Faucets
Dishwasher
Normal use = 68 gallons per day per person Conservation use = 38 gallons per day per person
Estimated Annual Water and Energy Savings
(family of four)
Appliance Low-flush toilet Low-volume showerhead Low-volume faucet Front-loading washer Water-efficient dishwasher Total
Water Savings (gallons) 18,000 4,000 9,000 13,000 600 44,600
Energy Savings (kilowatt hours) 0 500 500 1,300 150 2,450
Annual Dollar Savings Water 44,600 gallons @ $0.005 per gallon ~ $225 Energy 2,450 Kwh @ $0.08 per kWh ~ $200
Outdoor Water Conservation
•Outdoor use usually small in PA (< 10%) •High percentage is evaporated (consumptive use) •First target of drought restrictions •Examples
•Rain barrels to collect roof water •Drip or soaker hoses for irrigation •Nighttime watering •No car washing, filling pools, etc.
Water Resources Planning Act
(Passed December 2002) • Objectives
– Estimate how much water we have – Determine how much we use – Estimate how much we will need
• Creates a State Water Plan • Registration of all large water users
– Those using >10,000 gallons per day
• Water conservation education and assistance • Identification of critical water resources planning areas • Precursor to water resources based planning?