1 / 18

Efficient Household Water Conservation Strategies in Pennsylvania

Explore water usage patterns in PA, household water conservation methods, and the benefits of water conservation. Discover tips for reducing water consumption, efficient appliances, and savings through conservation. Learn about the Water Resources Planning Act and outdoor water conservation initiatives.

kah
Download Presentation

Efficient Household Water Conservation Strategies in Pennsylvania

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  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?

More Related