According to the US EPA, “the U.S. population has doubled over the past 50 years, while our thirst for water has tripled.” They go on to say that at least 40 states anticipate water shortages by 2024. In addition, it takes a lot of energy to process the water that comes out the tap in your home. There are many ways you can reduce water usage, including identifying and fixing leaks, installing low flow showerheads and dual flush toilets, planting drought tolerant species and using captured rainwater to water plants. Some of our communities have online systems to enable you to view and manage your water usage and some have tiered water rates that charge more per unit to those whose water usage is very high. Some examples from Highland Park are here.
More ideas for home water conservation are here and resources for community wide and larger conservation efforts are here.
