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<strong>50</strong> <strong>Ways</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Make</strong> <strong>Your</strong> <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Eco</strong>-<strong>Friendly</strong> <strong>Eco</strong> WALK the Talk.com<br />
5<strong>50</strong> Wa<br />
Did you know?<br />
� High volume water leaks often come from <strong>to</strong>ilets. They are hard <strong>to</strong> detect and are<br />
usually caused by worn or misaligned parts. A <strong>to</strong>ilet that continues <strong>to</strong> run after flushing<br />
could be wasting 20-40 litres per hour if undetected- that’s 175,000 <strong>to</strong> 3<strong>50</strong>,000 litres per<br />
year, enough water <strong>to</strong> fill a swimming pool. Leaks can cost you up <strong>to</strong> $355 per year. To<br />
check for a <strong>to</strong>ilet leak, carefully remove the <strong>to</strong>ilet tank lid. Place a dye tablet or some food<br />
colouring in the tank. Wait about 15 minutes without flushing. After 15 minutes check the<br />
water in your <strong>to</strong>ilet bowl. If the water is coloured, you’ve got a leak! You may need <strong>to</strong> call a<br />
plumber now <strong>to</strong> fix the leak!<br />
� Leaking faucets and showerheads are also big water wasters but they are easier <strong>to</strong><br />
detect than <strong>to</strong>ilet leaks. Worn washers or seats are the most likely cause of leaks in these<br />
fixtures. Repairing leaky faucets is usually a straightforward and inexpensive job, but well<br />
worthwhile because a little drip can waste lots of water and dollars.An intermittent drip<br />
from your faucet or showerhead can waste more than 35,000 litres of water or (35 cubic<br />
meters) a year, costing up <strong>to</strong> $35. This amount of wasted water would fill a bathtub 184<br />
times! The costs can add up quickly!<br />
� The average garden hose delivers 27 litres of water a minute, so a split in the hose or<br />
a poor coupling could be wasting large amounts of water. <strong>Make</strong> sure the outdoor faucet is<br />
turned off after each use, even small drips add up <strong>to</strong> big waste. Use garden water as wisely<br />
as possible. Consider using drip irrigation, and use a watering can wherever possible.<br />
(Source: CRD Water Department, Vic<strong>to</strong>ria B.C., Canada)<br />
32.Reuse water<br />
Reuse water in many imaginative ways, such as saving water while washing veggies and<br />
later using the same for watering plants. Water used for boiling water or lentils can be used<br />
in other dishes.<br />
Collect rainwater using simple devices such as buckets, or pipes that allow rainwater <strong>to</strong> flow<br />
in<strong>to</strong> a tank or in<strong>to</strong> the garden.<br />
33.Install a Grey Water System<br />
Though this may not be practical solution in all areas, it is definitely worth considering if you<br />
are building your own home. A grey water system is a great way <strong>to</strong> recycle water within<br />
your own home. It filters water from the kitchen sink and dishwasher <strong>to</strong> flush <strong>to</strong>ilets or <strong>to</strong><br />
water gardens. This is different from black water which is water from <strong>to</strong>ilets. You’d need <strong>to</strong><br />
alter plumbing systems.<br />
Resources<br />
Here’s a useful video on “Designing a <strong>Home</strong> Greywater System”<br />
Some more information can be obtained at Bracsystems.comand Oasisdesign.net<br />
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