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Saving Water in the Bathroom
Water is a precious resource that we take granted. In the United States, the average person uses 125 gallons of water day!
But the current drought is reminding Maryland residents that water resources are finite. Now more than ever, all of us should, and can, take simple steps to conserve water- for today and tomorrow.
Consider your bathroom behavior. The amount of water used in the bathroom exceeds all other household uses. However, according to Maryland Cooperative Extension, the outreach unit of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, you can reduce your consumption by employing the next five tips:
- Install low-flow fixtures, such as faucets, shower heads and toilets.
- Take short showers instead of baths. With a flow control device in your shower arm or head, a 4-minute shower uses only 8 gallons of water. Baths, on the other hand, can use a whopping 30 to 50 gallons of water!
- Avoid running water in the shower while shampooing your hair, soaping your body or shaving your legs. A cut-off valve on the shower head can temporarily stop water flow without altering the temperature.
- Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Each flush of a standard toilet uses 3.5 to 5 gallons of water. Dispose of tissues, insects, cigarettes and other trash in a wastebasket rather than in the toilet.
- Don’t let water run in the sink while shaving, brushing your teeth, or lathering your face and hands. You can waste more than 5 gallons of water by simply letting the water run while brushing your teeth!
For more information, contact:
Tom Miller, Extension Regional Water Quality Specialist 410-827-8056 x129, tm26@umail.umd.edu
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