Water is a precious resource. From washing clothes to cooking food, nearly every household task – not to mention the sustenance of life itself – relies on a reliable source of good, clean water. Only a tiny fraction – less than1 percent by some estimates – of the Earth’s water supply is usable, yet the average American consumes over 100 gallons each day [Source: EPA]. And to make matters worse, a large portion of that water is simply wasted. Help save the Earth, as well as save on your utility bills by employing some of these easy tips for saving water in the kitchen.
1. Don’t let those kitchen faucets drip!
A leaky faucet that drips all night can add up quicker than you’d think. A drip of just two tablespoons a minute will waste a whopping 15 gallons a day – not to mention drive you crazy with that drip-drip-dripping noise. Finicky or improperly installed kitchen faucets are often the culprit in this case – hire a plumber or install a new kitchen faucet to remedy this problem. The long overdue fix up will pay for itself in saved water, money and sanity.
2. Use your dishwasher properly.
Automatic dishwashers are the biggest drain on your household’s water. Get the most of your dishwasher by running it only when it’s completely full (and loaded properly, to avoid the need for second washings). Also, try to run your dishwasher after 10PM to reduce the load on your city’s water infrastructure. Or, better yet, wash some of those dishes in your kitchen sink. A little elbow grease can save you a lot of water.
3. Fill your kitchen sinks when washing dishes or rinsing vegetables.
Don’t let perfectly good water go to waste by letting it go down the drain. When washing dishes, instead of rinsing dishes straight from the kitchen faucet, keep a separate kitchen sink full of soapy water and the other with rinse water. If you don’t have two kitchen sinks, use a dish rack or a pan of warm water for rinsing. When preparing meals, keep rinse water from vegetable to be used later for washing dishes.
4. Install Efficient Kitchen Faucets
More and more recognized brands are now carrying water efficient faucets. Top brands such as Grohe and American Standard strive to create greener kitchen faucets that use less water but won’t sacrifice on performance.
As you can see, doing your part to save water in the kitchen doesn’t require sweeping life changes. By practicing responsible habits, installing water efficient kitchen faucets and keeping your fixtures well maintained, you can help cut back the amount of water waste that is prevalent in modern homes.
