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Water Conservation: A Guide to Saving Water at Home

Water is a precious resource that we all need to conserve. In the United States, we use an average of 80 gallons of water per day per person. That's a lot of water! And it's not just us. The global demand for water is expected to increase by 50% by 2050.


There are many things we can do to conserve water at home. Here are a few tips:

  • Fix leaky faucets and toilets. A leaky faucet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. A leaky toilet can waste even more.

  • Take shorter showers. A five-minute shower uses about 10 gallons of water. A 10-minute shower uses about 20 gallons.

  • Water your lawn less often. Most lawns only need to be watered once a week.

  • Wash your car less often. You can save water by washing your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a hose.

  • Install a water-efficient dishwasher and washing machine. Water-efficient appliances use less water and energy.

  • Install a rain barrel. A rain barrel can collect rainwater, which you can use to water your plants or lawn.

These are just a few tips for conserving water at home. By making small changes in our daily habits, we can all help to save this precious resource.

Here are some additional tips for water conservation:

  • Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth or shave.

  • Collect rainwater to water your plants.

  • Plant drought-tolerant plants in your garden.

  • Compost food scraps and yard waste to reduce the need for water to irrigate your lawn and garden.

  • Support water-conservation initiatives in your community.

By following these tips, we can all help to conserve water and protect this precious resource for future generations.


To make more substantive changes in your water use think about these major changes for major impacts:


Ultra low flush toilets (ULFTs) use 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) or less, which is 20% less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gpf. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water per year by replacing an old, inefficient toilet with an ULFT. This is equivalent to the amount of water used to fill a standard bathtub 10 times.

ULFTs are just as effective as older toilets at removing waste. They use a variety of technologies to achieve this, including:

  • Gravity flush: This is the most common type of ULFT. It uses gravity to flush waste down the drain.

  • Dual-flush: This type of ULFT has two flush buttons, one for liquid waste and one for solid waste. The liquid flush uses less water than the solid flush.

  • Toilet valves: This type of ULFT uses a valve to control the amount of water that is used for each flush.

ULFTs are a great way to save water and money. They are also a good choice for the environment. By choosing an ULFT, you can help to conserve water and protect our natural resources.

Here are some additional benefits of using ULFTs:

  • They can help to reduce your water bill.

  • They can help to protect the environment.

  • They are available in a variety of styles and colors to match your bathroom décor.

  • They are easy to install and maintain.

Greywater recycling is the process of collecting and reusing wastewater from household activities such as washing dishes, bathing, and laundry. Greywater can be used for a variety of purposes, including toilet flushing, irrigation, and landscape watering.

There are many benefits to recycling greywater, including:

  • Water conservation: Greywater recycling can help to conserve fresh water resources. In the United States, the average household uses about 80 gallons of water per day. By recycling greywater, households can reduce their water consumption by up to 50%.

  • Reduced wastewater treatment costs: Greywater recycling can help to reduce the cost of wastewater treatment. When greywater is recycled, it does not need to be treated at a wastewater treatment plant. This can save households and businesses money on their water bills.

  • Environmental benefits: Greywater recycling can help to protect the environment. When greywater is recycled, it does not need to be discharged into the sewer system. This can help to reduce pollution and protect our waterways.

Greywater recycling is a sustainable way to manage wastewater. It is a win-win for households, businesses, and the environment.

Here are some additional benefits of recycling greywater:

  • Increased property value: Homes with greywater recycling systems can command a higher price on the market.

  • Reduced risk of flooding: Greywater recycling can help to reduce the risk of flooding by reducing the amount of water that enters the sewer system.

  • Improved water quality: Greywater recycling can help to improve water quality by reducing the amount of pollutants that enter the sewer system.

If you are interested in recycling greywater, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to check with your local government to see if greywater recycling is allowed in your area. If it is allowed, you will need to obtain a permit. You will also need to have a greywater system installed. Greywater systems can be purchased from a variety of retailers.


Once you have a greywater system installed, you can start recycling greywater. Be sure to follow the instructions that come with your system to ensure that the water is safe to use.


Here are some cities that require new construction to water landscape with greywater:

  • Chula Vista, California

  • Encinitas, California

  • Santa Monica, California

  • Berkeley, California

  • Davis, California

  • Oakland, California

  • Portland, Oregon

  • Seattle, Washington

  • Denver, Colorado

  • Tucson, Arizona

These cities have enacted ordinances requiring new construction to be made “greywater-ready.” This means that the plumbing must be installed in such a way that greywater can be easily diverted from the sewer system and used to irrigate landscapes.


Greywater is wastewater from household activities such as washing dishes, bathing, and laundry. It is not contaminated with human waste and can be safely used to irrigate plants.


Requiring new construction to be greywater-ready is a way to conserve water and protect the environment. Greywater recycling can reduce household water consumption by up to 50%. It can also help to reduce wastewater treatment costs and protect our waterways.


If you are considering building a new home or business, I encourage you to check with your local government to see if greywater recycling is allowed in your area. If it is, you may want to consider having a greywater system installed. It is a great way to conserve water, reduce wastewater treatment costs, and protect the environment.


Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater for reuse on-site. Rainwater can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Irrigation: Rainwater can be used to irrigate lawns, gardens, and other plants.

  • Toilet flushing: Rainwater can be used to flush toilets.

  • Laundry washing: Rainwater can be used to wash clothes.

  • Car washing: Rainwater can be used to wash cars.

  • Outdoor cleaning: Rainwater can be used to clean outdoor surfaces, such as patios and decks.

  • Firefighting: Rainwater can be stored in cisterns and used for firefighting.

There are many benefits to capturing rainwater for residential use, including:

  • Water conservation: Rainwater harvesting can help to conserve fresh water resources. In the United States, the average household uses about 80 gallons of water per day. By capturing rainwater, households can reduce their water consumption by up to 50%.

  • Reduced wastewater treatment costs: Rainwater harvesting can help to reduce the cost of wastewater treatment. When rainwater is used, it does not need to be treated at a wastewater treatment plant. This can save households and businesses money on their water bills.

  • Environmental benefits: Rainwater harvesting can help to protect the environment. When rainwater is used, it does not need to be discharged into the sewer system. This can help to reduce pollution and protect our waterways.

  • Increased property value: Homes with rainwater harvesting systems can command a higher price on the market.

  • Reduced risk of flooding: Rainwater harvesting can help to reduce the risk of flooding by reducing the amount of water that enters the sewer system.

  • Improved water quality: Rainwater harvesting can help to improve water quality by reducing the amount of pollutants that enter the sewer system.

If you are interested in capturing rainwater for residential use, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to check with your local government to see if rainwater harvesting is allowed in your area. If it is allowed, you will need to obtain a permit. You will also need to have a rainwater harvesting system installed. Rainwater harvesting systems can be purchased from a variety of retailers.

Once you have a rainwater harvesting system installed, you can start using rainwater. Be sure to follow the instructions that come with your system to ensure that the water is safe to use.

Rainwater harvesting is a great way to conserve water, reduce wastewater treatment costs, and protect the environment. If you are interested in capturing rainwater for residential use, I encourage you to learn more about it and consider installing a rainwater harvesting system in your home or business.


In addition to the tips above, there are many other things you can do to conserve water. You can:

  • Support water-conservation initiatives in your community. There are many organizations working to conserve water. You can support these organizations by donating money, volunteering your time, or simply spreading the word about water conservation.

  • Educate yourself about water conservation. The more you know about water conservation, the more likely you are to take steps to conserve water. There are many resources available to help you learn about water conservation.

  • Get involved in water conservation. There are many ways to get involved in water conservation. You can start by talking to your friends and family about water conservation. You can also join a water-conservation group or volunteer your time to a water-conservation organization.

Every little bit helps. By working together, we can all help to conserve water and protect this precious resource for future generations. Stay tuned to our blog and our upcoming videos. We will be showing in detail our systems and how we use them here at the ranch. Also, contact us, as you know you can book a stay at the ranch or just pass on by if you are planning a trip to the area!







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