Low Water Use Benefits and Methods

A Series of Factsheets on New Construction Issues
Low Water Use Benefits and Methods

Summary
Why conserve water? Wise use of water is a good idea for many reasons:

On a large scale, wise water use protects our environment and preserves a natural resource.
On a personal level, wise water use saves money by reducing water bills.
On the community level, wise water use will lengthen the life of delivery systems because less stress is placed on the system. Increased water use can overburden municipal and private sewage treatment systems which may result in watering restrictions and higher costs.

Water Waste Facts

On average, North American cities use twice as much water per person as Western European cities and seven times that used in developing countries.
In the United States, five billion gallons of water are flushed down toilets each day. Use of low flow toilets would cut use to 1.5 billion gallons. Replacing standard 3.5 gallon toilets with 1.6 gallon toilets would save an average household 12,000 gallons of water per year.
How is water used in homes? A recent evaluation in Lincoln, Nebraska showed that, on average, a family of four uses 300 to 400 gallons of water each day. That 300 to 400 gallons average water use is attributed to the following uses:
- Toilet flushing - 42 percent
- Showers and Bathing - 30 percent
- Laundry - 14 percent
- Dishwashing - 6 percent
- Drinking and cooking - 5 percent
- Bathroom sinks - 3 percent

Where does water go after it is used? Most municipalities operate and maintain water treatment facilities. The city of Lincoln's Theresa Street water plant treats about 30 million gallons of water a day. During the summer when water use increases, Lincoln's water system delivers 80 to 90 million gallons a day to customers.

Steps To Reduce Water Use In Your Home
There are any number of ways water use can be reduced around the home:

Reduce total indoor water use by installing efficient fixtures and appliances.
Have an efficient and drought resistant landscape that incorporates xeriscape techniques. Other suggestions include planting low-water use turf and using microclimate improvements.
Control runoff from the property using appropriate guttering and landscape designs.
Have a responsible irrigation schedule.
Be frugal with water use.

Nebraska Green Building Program
Builders participating in the Energy Office's Nebraska Green Building Program are encouraged to reduce water use during all phases of the construction of their homes as well as specify and install low water use fixtures and landscaping that will help to reduce water use in the future. Builders of Nebraska Green Building Certified Homes are required to install certain items or utilize efficient construction techniques. Builders may also earn credits in the Low Water Use category by including some of the options below:

Shower heads have a maximum flow rating of 2.5 gallons per minute*
Toilets have a maximum water usage rating of 1.6 gallons per flush*
Permeable paving materials are used in at least 60 percent of all paving areas such as walkways, patios and driveways
Low water use grasses such as blue gramma, buffalo or fescue are planted
A valved distribution system is installed in the home
A xeriscaped landscape is installed in more than 80 percent of the property's non-paved areas
The kitchen sink has a maximum flow rating of 2.0 gallons per minute
A front loading horizontal axis clothes washer is included in the home
The home has a water conserving irrigation system with rain-override timer or soil moisture sensor; other features include drip irrigation, soaker hoses and bubblers and zoned irrigation with separate valving for plants' needs
A graywater irrigation system is installed in the home
Copper piping is used for all potable water lines
The site is graded to direct water away from foundations to a harvesting area that prevents water runoff
No garbage disposal is included

*Required in the Nebraska Green Building Program.

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