Green plumbing? Green water? So what's up with that? Shaun McKinnon from the Arizona Republic once wrote "We live in a desert state and, some would say, in a state of denial." This article, and others clearly point out we Arizonans 'use' an amount of water each year that could support a population 5 times it's current size. Although our farms use roughly 65% of our water supply there is still much we can all do to conserve water in our quest to "Go Green".

This month we take a look at 6 ways we can all conserve a little water and help bring down those water bills.

Regular Sprinkler System Checks

Walk any neighborhood each morning and you will invariably find a "shooter". A drip emitter or sprinkler head that has malfunctioned and shooting water into the air, sometimes trailing down the street. Repairs for these items normally take only a few minutes to perform, yet save hundreds, even thousands of gallons of water on your water bill. Check the times on your sprinkler system and take a stroll through your lawn each month for this easy fix.

Dishwasher versus Hand-washing?

I'm not touching this one with a ten foot pole. My initial research yielded support for both sides of this fence; however, I was able to find some common ground:

• Wash full loads either by hand or in the dishwasher. Partial loads simply waste water.
• Use the "Air Dry" feature on your dishwasher. Although not a water saver, this does conserve on your energy bill.
• Sprinkle baking soda on the dishes as a pre-wash. This common household product not only cuts down on odors, but helps break down the food, requiring less washing.

Low Flow Aerators

According to EarthEasy: "Installing Low-Flow shower heads and faucet aerators is the single most effective water conservation savings you can do for your home. Inexpensive and simple to install, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce your home water consumption as much as 50%, and reduce your energy cost of heating the water also by as much as 50%."

Recirculating Pumps

I often joke that one could go out and play 9 holes on the course before hot water makes it to my kitchen sink. Whether my hot water pipes loop down to Tuscon and back or not, installing a recirculating pump can help reduce the time it takes hot water to reach your shower head or sink. Grundfos has a table of information estimating wasted water between 10,000 and 55,000 gallons of water, per household, each year.

The City of Scottsdale Arizona has long recognized the need for best water management practices and continues to offer plumbing rebates.

• Toliets, Showerheads and Free Aerators
• Hot Water Recirculation Systems

Rain Sensors

Even in Arizona some properties can save hundreds even thousands of gallons each year by having a sensor that tells the sprinkler system it's raining and not to bother coming on. This too, is part of our product package of the month.

Pools

Do you know if your pool leaks water? Last year EMS Constructors did a large pool remodel where we turned the water leveler off in preparation for draining the pool. The water line dropped almost one foot overnight! This pool was leaking water like a sieve and no one knew it. Here is a simple test:

1. Fill a pot of water and set it next to your pool.
2. Make a note of the water level in your pool and turn off your water leveler for a day.
3. Due to evaporation, the drop in water level should be the same for each. If not, and your pool has a larger drop; it is leaking.

You may also consider recruiting the services of a qualified, licensed Contractor or Handyman such as EMS Constructors to inspect some of your items. Qualified, licensed contractors normally have the skills to identify many discrepancies in plumbing and landscaping systems typically missed.

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