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Household Water Conservation

Household Water Conservation. Where is Water Used in PA?. Water Use (million gallons per day). Thermoelectric (not shown) = 5,930. Shifting Population Changes Local Water Use. ~20,000 new wells each year. Wells Drilled 1960-1994. Household Water Use in PA. 1900 5 million residents

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Household Water Conservation

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  1. Household Water Conservation

  2. Where is Water Used in PA? Water Use (million gallons per day) Thermoelectric (not shown) = 5,930

  3. Shifting Population Changes Local Water Use ~20,000 new wells each year Wells Drilled 1960-1994

  4. Household Water Use in PA • 1900 • 5 million residents • 5 gallons per person per day • 1995 • 12 million residents • 62 gallons per person per day

  5. Where is Water Used in the Home(69.3 gallons per person per day)

  6. Why Conserve Water? • Save money !! • Energy savings (from heating water) • Water savings (for those that pay for water) • Conserve your supply for later use • Rebates • Some utilities offer incentives for conservation • Reduce the load to your septic or sewer system • Make environmentally conscious decisions when possible

  7. Achieving Water Conservation • Changes in habits • Little or no cost • Quick effect • Usually temporary • Water-saving appliances, fixtures • Can be expensive • Most are easily installed • Very effective • Permanent

  8. Changes in Habits • Often touted during droughts • Examples • Shorter showers • Wait for full laundry loads • Less frequent toilet flushing • Reduce outdoor watering • No car washing

  9. Toilets • Largest user of water in most homes • Average use = 5.1 flushes per person per day • Conventional = 4 to 5 gallons per flush (gpf) • New toilets = 1.6 gpf • 1.6 gpf toilets have been required since 1994

  10. Clothes Washers • Average use = 2.6 loads per week per person • Conventional = 45 to 51 gallons per load (gpl) • Front-loading = 27 gpl • Disadvantages • More expensive initially • Bending to get clothes • Longer wash time • Advantages • Significant energy savings • Less detergent • Less drying needed • Larger load capacity • Cleaner clothes • Less wear and tear on clothes

  11. Dish Washer • 50% of homes have one • Similar water use to hand-washing • Average use = about 1 load per week per person • Conventional = about 11 gallons per load • Water efficient = 4 to 7 gpl

  12. Other Water-Saving Toilets Composting toilet and composter • Mostly commercial or recreational uses • Air-assisted • Utilizes air compressor • About 0.5 gallons per flush • Noisy • Composting • No water use • Requires careful maintenance • Best for low-use situations Air-assisted

  13. Faucets • Average use = 4 minutes per day per person • Conventional = 3 to 6 gallons per minute • Low-volume = 1.5 gallons per minute • (as low as 0.5 gpm for bathroom) • Very inexpensive • 2.5 gpm faucets required since 1994

  14. Showerheads • Average use = 8 minutes per day per person • Conventional = 3 to 6 gallons per minute • Low-volume = 2 to 2.5 gallons per minute • Some have manual shut-off for extra savings • Very inexpensive • Savings depend on habits also • 2.5 gpm showerhead required since 1994

  15. Effect of Water Conservation Water Use (gallons per day) Normal use = 68 gallons per day per person Conservation use = 38 gallons per day per person

  16. Estimated Annual Water and Energy Savings(family of four) Water Savings Energy Savings Appliance (gallons) (kilowatt hours) Low-flush toilet 18,000 0 Low-volume showerhead 4,000 500 Low-volume faucet 9,000 500 Front-loading washer 13,000 1,300 Water-efficient dishwasher 600 150 Total 44,600 2,450 Annual Dollar Savings Water 44,600 gallons @ $0.005 per gallon ~ $225 Energy 2,450 Kwh @ $0.08 per kWh ~ $200

  17. Outdoor Water Conservation • Outdoor use usually small in PA (< 10%) • High percentage is evaporated (consumptive use) • First target of drought restrictions • Examples • Rain barrels to collect roof water • Drip or soaker hoses for irrigation • Nighttime watering • No car washing, filling pools, etc.

  18. Water Resources Planning Act(Passed December 2002) • Objectives • Estimate how much water we have • Determine how much we use • Estimate how much we will need • Creates a State Water Plan • Registration of all large water users • Those using >10,000 gallons per day • Water conservation education and assistance • Identification of critical water resources planning areas • Precursor to water resources based planning?

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