4 Innovative Ways to Reduce Your Household Water Footprint

The average American household uses more than 300 gallons of water each day, and 70% of that is used indoors. With strains on the water supply, monitoring your water usage is an important part of minimizing your ecological footprint. 

There are many ways to reduce your water footprint, and it doesn’t have to mean being uncomfortable in your own home. Simple adjustments can make a big difference, and you’ll not only help with water shortages, you’ll save money on your utility bills. 

Install Water-Efficient Appliances

Making your home more sustainable doesn’t have to mean you take extreme measures. Simple steps like using eco-friendly materials in your home, considering solar panels, insulating your home properly, and using efficient appliances can make a big difference.

Given that 70% of home water use is indoors, having water-efficient appliances such as low-flow toilets, high-efficiency dishwashers and clothes washers, low-flow faucets, performance showerheads, and automatic turn-off mechanisms can make a significant dent in your water usage. 

You can also install eco-friendly plumbing behind the scenes, such as sustainable pipes, recyclable materials, tankless water heaters, and more. That means lower utility bills and better peace of mind about the planet — and you’ll barely notice the difference.

You can also invest in recirculating systems for hot water, which may earn you tax breaks while helping you make a smaller impact on the environment. 

Be Vigilant About Water Leaks

Water leaks account for thousands of gallons of water per household each year—water that isn’t used or enjoyed; it’s just wasted. Proper plumbing maintenance and inspections can help detect leaks so they can be fixed right away before thousands of gallons of water are lost. 

Alongside regular maintenance, smart plumbing solutions can detect leaks using flow and pressure sensors, AI algorithms, and other detection technologies. If something unusual happens, water in that area can be shut off automatically, preventing damage while also preventing water waste. Best of all, you’ll save money on utilities and avoid expensive water damage repairs. 

Smart plumbing systems can also make your water heater more efficient, help you understand water usage, prevent frozen pipes, and more. 

Reconsider Lawn Care

We all love lush, green, healthy lawns, but keeping them that way usually requires a lot of water, chemicals, and other strategies that don’t help the planet long-term. 

Instead of focusing on having a stereotypical suburban yard, consider eco-friendly lawn care instead. Skip the chemicals and use natural fertilizers, mulch, and companion planting. Choosing native plants is a great way to have a beautiful outdoor space with far less watering, and you can collect and reuse rainwater rather than using your home plumbing. 

You might also think about having something other than a grass lawn on your property. You can turn your lawn into a food garden, landscape with clover or other plants native to the area, or even have a moss garden. These unique, attractive options give you good curb appeal and a nice outdoor space without the water and chemicals that a grass lawn requires.

Clean Outside With Less Water

Keeping your sidewalks and driveway clean often means getting out the hose or powerwasher a few times a year. However, you don’t have to use water to clean — a simple push broom requires a bit more effort but uses no water. 

As often as you can, use manual cleaning methods or limited water — a bucket instead of a hose — for outdoor cleaning tasks. You can also clean outside on rainy days, taking advantage of the rain to reduce the water you need to use. Biodegradable water-saving soap options also require less water and are better for the environment.

Taking these steps helps keep your property clean while significantly reducing the amount of water your family uses each year.

Encourage the Whole Family to Join the Fun

Finding ways to save water can be fun and encourage creativity in your family. Consider watching educational shows and documentaries about the impact of water use, and create fun challenges to help everyone get on board with saving water. A fun prize, like choosing a family weekend activity, can encourage everyone to participate. 

You can also work together as a family on water-saving projects, such as creating rain barrels, planting native plants in the yard, or installing water-efficient fixtures. This helps everyone feel invested in the effort and proud of the impact they’re making.

It’s easy to look around and find other people or organizations that are impacting the planet more than we are, but we can’t control them. Instead, we can take ownership of our own actions and reduce our personal water footprint. With the strategies above, and turning water-saving actions into fun activities for the whole family, you can make a difference.