Conserving Water

Easy Ways To Conserve Water

The Denver Water Board urges caution with our limited supply of this precious resource. Below are some ways in which you can conserve water.

Toilet

☼ Flush only when needed & do not use as a wastebasket

☼ Put a plastic bottle filled with water in the tank of each conventional toilet.

☼ Replace conventional toilets with low-flow toilets.

Brushing Teeth

☼ Use a glass of water or brush & rinse -- anything to avoid running water.

Showers

☼ Limit showers to 5 minutes.

☼ Replace a conventional showerhead with a low-flow showerhead.

Shaving

☼ Use a small amount of water in the sink instead of leaving the tap running.

☼ Turn off the water if you are in the shower.

Washing Fruits & Vegetables

☼ Put water in dishpan & use a vegetable brush rather than running water.

☼ Don't discard that water. Use it on your house plants.

Washing Dishes

☼ Soak pots & pans instead of running water while you scrape.

☼ Wash by hand in a dishpan/sink then use water to flush your toilet.

Comparison of Water Consumption

Activity	Conservative Approach	Conventional Approach
Toilet - 4 flushes	Low Flow Toilet 6.4 gallons	Conventional Toilet 14-28 gallons per flush
Brushing Teeth - twice	Glass of Water .25 gallons	Open Tap 2 gallons
Shower - 5 minute	Low Flow Showerhead 12.5 gallons	Conventional Showerhead 15 - 40 gallons
Shaving	Water in the Sink .5 gallons	Open Tap 2 gallons
Washing Fruits & Vegetables	Dishpan 1 - 2 gallons	Open Tap 5 - 10 gallons
Washing Dishes	Hand Wash w/ Dishpan 5 gallons	Dishwasher 5 - 10 gallons
Totals per person	26 - 27 gallons per day	48-97 gallons per day
Totals per Family of Four	104 - 108 gallons per day	192-388 gallons per day

Items to Consider

☼ Leaky faucets & toilets can waste 500 gallons of water per month.

☼ Commercial car washes recycle their water.

☼ One 1/4 pound hamburger uses 600 gallons of water to produce: irrigation of corn fields to feed cattle, water consumed by cattle & water to process the meat.

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