Low-flow showerheads can reduce how much water you use for showering by 20 to 50%. A low-flow showerhead can save up more than 50 liters per day. Replacing all your showerheads with low-flow models can save hundreds of liters per day. Inserting an aerator (watersaver) is a simple and inexpensive way to reduce the water flow from a showerhead by 25 to 50%. Try to limit showers to no more than 5 minutes.
Toilets can use as much as 13 liters per flush. Low flow toilets can save as much as 100 liters per day. Dual flush toilets can save an additional 20 to 30 liters per day. If your villa (or flat) has a dual flush toilet, make sure that everyone in the household understands how to use it and uses the light flush option when possible.
Low-flow faucets use only about half as much water as a standard faucet. A low-flow faucet can save more than 100 liters per day. Replacing all your faucets with low-flow faucets can save hundreds of liters per day. Turning the faucet off when brushing your teeth can save up to 8 liters every time you brush. Inserting an aerator (watersaver) is a simple and inexpensive way to reduce the water flow from a faucet by 25 to 50%.
A high efficiency clothes washer uses about 40% less water than a standard machine. A high efficiency clothes washer can save up to 60 liters per load. If you can wait, it is always better to run the clothes washer when you have a full load.
When rinsing fruits and vegetables, do it in a bowl instead of under a running tap. And instead of pouring the water down the drain, give that water to your plants! Don't use running water to thaw frozen food. Use the defrost setting on your microwave instead.
A high efficiency dishwasher uses about 40% less water than a standard machine. A high efficiency dishwasher can save up to 20 liters per load. Waiting until you have a full load to run the dishwasher can save a lot of water. Using a full dishwasher is better than washing dishes by hand.
Leakage is a problem in most residences. If your water bill suddenly goes up, you might have a leakage problem. The primary sources of leakage are toilets, faucets, showerheads, and connections in pipes. With the exception of pipe connections, you may not notice the leakage because it goes down the drain. A toilet with a bad flapper valve or a misaligned fill tube can leak hundreds or even thousands of liters per day. Repairing a leaking toilet is simple and, in most cases, does not cost much. Leaking faucets and showerheads are easy to repair and can save a significant amount of water. A small leak of 10 drops per minute can add up to about 2,000 liters per year. A leak of 1 drop per second amounts to more than 30 liters per day.
