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Drinking Water
Drinking Water | Conservation | Quality Water Supply Status
 

Conservation

The facts about water leaks:
An American home can waste, on average, more than 11,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks.  That’s more than 1 trillion gallons of water that leak from US homes each year.
 
Common types of leaks include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves, which can all be fixed.
 
A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of 1 drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.  Leaky faucets can be repaired by checking and/or replacing worn faucet washers and gaskets.  If you are thinking about replacing a faucet, look for the WaterSense label.
 
An outdoor irrigation system with pressures set at 60 pounds per square inch that has a leak of 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime!) can waste about 6,300 gallons water per month!
 
For more information about finding and fixing leaks, please grab a wrench or contact your favorite handy person or plumber, to address leaking toilets, faucets, and irrigation systems around your home. Visit the WaterSense website to learn more tips on how to save water.

Every Drop Counts!

Why conserve?

Water conservation is an important step to manage our water supply and stretch it through the dry season.  Water use during the peak of summer often doubles or triples as the temperatures heat up.  The heavy demand for water comes at the same time there is the least additional water supply available. 
 
Water conservation is also required by Washington State Department of Health through the adoption of the Water Use Efficiency Rule.  WAC 246-290-100(4).  This rule required water utilities to set goals for water efficiency and to report on the status of achieving the goals each year by July 1st.  In Redmond, we publish the program results in our Water Quality Report.

Want to Save Money on Water?

Washer Rebates

Rebates from $50 to $100 are available for qualifying models of efficient clothes washers that use 40% less water and energy. A list of qualifying models and a rebate application for Redmond water utility customers is available here.  

Clothes washers usually last 10 or more years, so this is an opportunity not to be missed. Our energy partner Puget Power at www.pse.com has several other appliance rebates.

Toilet Replacement Rebates

“Member” and Cascade Water Alliance now offer a $100 rebate to homeowners for the replacement of old toilets using 3.5 gallons per flush or greater with new WaterSense Toilets. WaterSense Toilets are certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency to use a maximum of 1.28 gallons per flush while still providing reliable performance.  There are currently limited WaterSense models available at most retailers, but more are coming. Visit Cascade Water for an application form and a list of available models.  Also check out the list of Maximum Performance of WaterSense High-Efficiency Toilet Fixtures before you make your next toilet fixture purchase.

Be sure and look for the WaterSense logo when you’re shopping for a new toilet.

Irrigation Rebates

Outdoor water saving rebates are available through Cascade Water for irrigation controller system upgrades and the installation of rain sensors for residential, multi-family, or commercial irrigation systems.

How to Save Water and Money

Check out King County's website Yard Talk: Dirt Simple Tips for Natural Yard Care.  Lots of ideas and suggestions on how to create and maintain a natural yard of your own.

Outdoors - Become a Weather Watcher!
Adjust your irrigation system according to the weather.  Water before 10:00 AM or after 7:00 PM to reduce evaporation and interference from wind.  And, never water when it’s raining!
Estimated savings:  20-25 gallons per day

Don't overwater!
For in-ground irrigation system owners, reduce cycles by 1-3 minutes, or eliminate one irrigation cycle per week.
Estimated savings:  15-25 gallons each minute or up to 250 gallons per cycle

Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and run-off.
Estimated savings:  15-25 gallons per day

Run your irrigation system all the way through its cycles when you can observe it.  Then repair leaks and broken sprinkler heads.
Estimated savings:  20 gallons per day per week
(Don’t forget there are rebates for upgraded ET controllers and rain sensors through Cascade Water.

For all gardeners.
Add 2-3 inches of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation.
Estimated savings:  20-30 gallons per day per 1,000 sq. ft.

Other Outdoor Savings Opportunities

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and walkways.
Estimated savings:  8-18 gallons per minute

Repair any leaks around pool and spa pumps.
Estimated savings:  20 gallons per day, per leak

Repair leaking hose bibs.
Estimated savings:  15-20 gallons per day, per leak
(Note:  For information on water wasted due to leaks, visit the Water Wiser Drip Calculator.)

Indoor Water Saving Opportunities

Run the dishwasher only when full.
Estimated savings:  2-4.5 gallons per load

Replace older, inefficient clothes washers.  (Rebates for qualifying machines are still available through Cascade Water Alliance.)
Estimated savings:  15-30 gallons per load

Take shorter showers.  For a free shower timer call 425-556-2845.
Estimated savings:  2.5 gallons per minute
 
A frequently asked question  'How does my water use compare to my neighbor’s?'  requires that a number of variables be considered such as number of people in the house, age of appliances, long or short showers, a lot of outdoor use or not, or are the folks even at home during parts of the year.

To get an idea of how much water you use, you can go to http://www.h2ouse.org/ to calculate what you use, and to think about ways you can save.