For perspective, 20,000 gallons of water is enough water to fill a swimming pool. Seem impossible? It’s not!

Every day, we consume far more water than we realize, and with just a few simple steps, we can drastically reduce our usage, save energy, and save money. It’s also important to note that all the numbers below are for a single man or woman living alone. For an estimate on family values, multiply by the number of family members. So, get ready to follow along with the math as we try to reach 20,000 gallons!

20,000 Gallons of Water in a Year

• Upgrade Your Toilet: Toilets are some of the largest consumers of water in your home and for good reason. Outdated toilets have been known to use between 5-7 gallons per flush. Plus, many homeowners use their toilet as a second garbage can. So if one were to use just one less flush per day by no longer flushing tissues, cue-tips, and scrap paper and upgraded to a high-efficiency toilet, they could save…
  • 5gpf X 5 (average flushes per day) = 25 X 365 = 9125 gpy
  • 28gpf X 4 (new average flushes per day) = 1868.8 gpy
  • 9125 – 1868.8 = 2 gallons saved per year per toilet
• Install a Low-Flow Showerhead: According to National Geographic, a low-flow showerhead can save up to 15 gallons in a 10-minute shower. This simple upgrade alone can make a massive difference in your annual water consumption.
  • 15 gallons X 365 showers a year = 5,475 gallons saved per year!
• Turn the Faucet Off While Brushing Your Teeth: You hear this one a lot, right? There’s no need to run the faucet while you are brushing your teeth. The water spent it is completely wasted, but do you know just how much water?
  • 2 minutes spent brushing teeth X 2 gallons/min = 4 gallons per brushing session.
  • 4 gallons X 2 sessions X 365 = 2920 gallons
  • .25 gallons spent with tap off X 2 sessions X 365 = 182.5 gallons
  • 2920 – 182.5 = 2,737.5 gallons saved per year
• Use a Dishwasher: I know; this one is a hard sell. Use perhaps the most convenient appliance in the kitchen. C’mon! Still, an EnergyStar dishwasher will go a long way in conserving water. However, depending on the method of washing, quality of the dishwasher, and frequency of loads will affect these numbers greatly.
  • 2 gallons per minute X 27-minute average hand-washing time = 54 gallons per cycle’s worth
  • 54 gallons X 2 cycle’s worth per week X 52 weeks = 5616 Gallons spent hand-washing per year
  • 8 gallons per dishwashing cycle X 2 cycles per week X 52 Weeks per year = 603.2 gallons per year
  • 5616 – 603.2 =8 gallons of water saved per year

Total Water Saved = 20,481 Gallons

Bonus Tip! Fix Leaks Immediately With a Four Seasons Plumber

All leaks are different, but each one will waste hundreds of gallons of water if left unchecked. If your faucet, pipes, or any other plumbing fixture springs a leak, contact Four Seasons 24 hours a day, seven days a year for plumbing service with no extra charge for nights, weekends, or holidays.