Toilet

Toilet

It takes a lot of water to produce the food we eat, the energy we use and all the things that we buy. Use our water saving tips below to reduce your water use in the bathroom. You’ll find lots of ways to shrink your water footprint.

Get a low-flow toilet. Flushing is the biggest water hog in the house. Older, conventional toilets can use 5 to 7 gallons per flush, but low-flow models use as little as 1.6 gallons. Since the average person flushes five times a day, the gallons can really add up.

Put a plastic bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush (if you can’t replace your higher volume toilet).

To check for a toilet leak, put dye or food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak that should be repaired.

Practice “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.” The saying may be cliché, but it’s good advice. If you’re grossed-out by the “yellow,” just put the toilet lid down.

Don’t flush things down the toilet to dispose of them. Throw tissues and other bathroom waste in the garbage can, which doesn’t require gallons of water.