In 2006, the EPA launched a water conservation program called WaterSense. This program promotes water efficiency and has increased the demand for water conservation products and practices. Many of our manufacturers have created WaterSense labeled products, which use 20% less water than traditional bathroom products. For more information on water conservation products, click the logos below.

Water conservation and using more sustainable products in the bathroom doesn’t need to cost more or require personal sacrifice. You will never notice the difference between a toilet that flushes at 1.6 gpf versus the new 1.28 gpf, but you will save up to 16,500 gallons of water each year. You also won’t notice the difference in performance in a faucet with a water-saving aerator, but that will save you an additional 14,700 gallons of water each year. Making these simple changes will save a family of four up to 31,200 gallons of water each year! According to the average rate of $1.50 per 16 oz bottle of water, 31,200 gallons would be $374,400 of bottled water! To give you another comparison, a 24’ x 16’ swimming pool, whose depth slopes from 3’ – 5’, takes 11,520 gallons of water. Every little bit helps, so next time you turn on your faucet, remember to conserve!

Here are some tips for conserving water in the bathroom:

1. Fix leaky faucets – That little annoying drip coming from your faucet can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year.
2. Take a shower instead of a bath - Bathtubs use 70 + gallons of water, while taking a 10 minute shower would use only 25 gallons. If you are like me and can’t give up your baths, plug the tub drain before you turn on the water and adjust the temperature as the tub is filling. This will prevent some wasting of water.
3. Turn off the faucet – Turning off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth twice a day can save up to 2,920 gallons of water per year! While you’re at it, men, turn off the water while you’re shaving as well, or shave while you’re in the shower.
4. Update your toilet – Until 1992, toilets were allowed to use 3.5 – 5 gallons of water per flush (gpf). In 1992 regulations were changed to 1.6 gpf, where they still are today. However, in 2004 the developments of High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) brought the number down to 1.28 gpf. This is turning into the new standard and can save you up to 16,500 gallons of water per year. These toilets are the same price as 1.6 gpf and flush just as well, so there is no downside!