Water Saving Devices

Many different kinds of water saving devices and fixtures are on the market, ranging from special reduced-flow showerheads to water-thrifty shallow-trap toilets. A variety of shower head adapters also are available to cut down water use from existing fixtures, although a little self-control to not turn faucets on full-blast does just about as well, at no cost at all. See a good plumbing supply or hardware store for advice, particularly when it’s time to replace an old fixture in the house.

Here are some examples of how much water can be saved by using these devices:

Age and Type of Fixture	Water Use Rate (gallons per use)	Estimated Annual Water Savings in gallons per Household
Pre-1950 Toilet	7.0	26,538
1994 Toilet	3.5	9,337
Waterless Toilet	0	7,863
Pre-1980 Shower head	8.0 gallons per minute	13,619
Pre-1980 Faucet	7.0 gallons per minute	18,212
Pre-1980 Clothes Washer	56 gallons per load	10,339
1990 Dishwasher	14 gallons per load	675

You can see that by replacing old, inefficient fixtures and appliances you can really save a lot.