Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating. STOP THE DRIP Make Every Drop Count Green Living

Limited amount of water Texas’ population is booming Reduce the need for new sources of water by conserving and protecting water quality Reduce water use in order to reduce water utility bill for families

The Earth’s Water Supply 97.2% of the Earth's water supply is salt water. Only 2.8% is fresh water!

Water Use & Population Growth Texas’ population in 1907 was < 4 million Average water use: 5 gallons per day/person vs. Texas’ projected 2015 population is 28 million Average water use: must be less than today’s gallons per day for each person (in-house)

Protecting and Conserving Water Water Quality Water that is safe to drink Water that is okay for other tasks Water Quantity How much do we need to drink? How much total water do we need per day?

Water Used Inside the Home Each person consumes an average of gallons of water per day (75 – 80 gal. inside). Make a list of how we use water in the home. Where do you think we use the most water?

Water Use In Household 75% of water used inside - bathroom 8% of in-home water use - kitchen 14% of water used inside – laundry

Ways to Reduce Water Use Change behavior – use less water, reuse water, use waterless ways to complete task Maintain and/or repair Use equipment to maximize efficiency Replace with energy-efficient product

Behavior Changes Take shorter showers Turn water faucet off while brushing teeth or shaving Scrape the dishes clean instead of rinsing Only fill glass with amount of water you will use/drink

Other Ways to Change Water Use Behaviors Scrub dishes with brush (no water running) Disinfectant solution for washing hands Compost rather than using garbage disposal Spot clean clothing to delay washing Sweep or use blower rather than water hose Wear clothing more than once (if possible)

Use Equipment Efficiently Adjust water level for amount of clothes in wash load (preferably only wash full loads) Only run dishwasher with full load Avoid using toilet as a trash basket

Maintain and/or Repair Repair all leaks Toilets Pipes Water Line Hoses and washers Faucets Irrigation system

Purchasing Water- Saving Appliances and Equipment Check water use of various models and brands when purchasing Equipment may use less water Equipment may heat water at point of use Equipment may have sensors to determine when less water is needed New technology – continuous hot water system