Northwood News ♦ April 2009
Take a Home Water Audit to See How You Use Water
Are you interested in learning how to save water and money at home?
This home water audit will help you identify easy ways to conserve water at
home. Answer the questions. Check the responses that best match
your current water use actions. Each response has a water drop
rating. After answering all of the questions, count the number
of water drops to determine your home water conservation score.
Water smart tips, in italics, follow each checklist for water use.
A) BATHROOM USAGE
Do you check the toilet tank for water leaks at least twice a year?
 Yes | 2 Drops |
| Don’t know | 0 Drops |
| No | 0 Drops |
Tip: Place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank.
If the food coloring is seen in the bowl without flushing, there is a leak.
Do you have a low-flow toilet?
(If home was built after 1992, check yes.)
| Yes | 2 Drops |
| Don’t know | 0 Drops |
| No | 0 Drops |
Tip: A low-flow toilet uses 1.5 gallons of water per flush instead of an older toilet that uses 5 or more gallons of water per flush.
How often is the toilet being used as a wastebasket to flush away trash?
| Never | 2 Drops |
| Sometimes | 0 Drops |
| Always | 0 Drops |
Tip: Use a wastebasket instead of the toilet to flush away trash.
Each flush uses 1.5 or more gallons of water, depending on the type of toilet.
Do you have a low-flow showerhead?
(If less than 2 gallons of water per minute, check yes.)
| Yes | 2 Drops |
| Don’t know | 0 Drops |
| No | 0 Drops |
Tip: Low-flow showerheads can save approximately three
gallons of water per minute.
What is the average shower time per person?
| 5 min. or less | 2 Drops |
| 5-10 minutes | 1 Drop |
| 10 min.+ | 0 Drops |
Tip: Taking shorter showers can save approximately five
gallons of water per minute, depending on the type of showerhead.
What is the average depth of water in the bathtub?
| ½-full or less | 2 Drops |
| ½-full | 1 Drop |
| Full | 0 Drops |
Tip: Filling a bathtub less than ½-full can save approximately
18 gallons of water.
B) KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY USAGE
Do you have an aerator on the kitchen sink faucet?
| Yes | 2 Drops |
| Don’t know | 0 Drops |
| No | 0 Drops |
Tip: Aerators can save up to two gallons of water per minute.
How are dishes hand washed in the sink?
| Water turned off when not needed | 2 Drops |
| Water continually running while rinsing | 1 Drop |
| Water continually running while washing and rinsing | 0 Drops |
Tip: Fill the kitchen sink with water to wash and rinse dishes
instead of letting the water continually run.
How full are your dishwasher loads?
| ½-full or less | 0 Drops |
| ½-full | 1 Drop |
| Full | 2 Drops |
Tip: Wait until you have full loads. Use water- and
energy-saving cycles.
How full are your laundry loads?
| ½-full or less | 0 Drops |
| ½-full | 1 Drop |
| Full | 2 Drops |
Tip: Wait until you have full loads. Use water- and
energy-saving cycles.
C) OUTDOOR USAGE
Are lawns watered only when they really need it?
| Yes | 2 Drops |
| Don’t know | 0 Drops |
| No | 0 Drops |
Tip: Adjust your lawn-watering schedule to the season.
For winter grass, water every 7-14 days. For summer grass,
water every 3-6 days.
What types of plants make up the majority of your landscape?
| Mostly low-water use | 2 Drops |
| Mixture of low- and high-water use | 1 Drop |
| Mostly high-water use | 0 Drops |
Tip: Landscaping with low-water-use plants can reduce your outdoor
water use. Check online for lists of low-water-use plants.
What time of the day do you water?
| In the morning or evening | 2 Drops |
| Anytime of the day | 1 Drop |
| During the middle of the day | 0 Drops |
Tip: Watering in the cooler times of the day (morning or evening)
reduces the amount of water that is lost through evaporation.
How do you clean your driveway and sidewalks?
| With a broom only | 2 Drops |
| With a broom and garden hose | 0 Drops |
| With a garden hose | 0 Drops |
Tip: Use a broom, instead of a garden hose, to clean your driveway
and sidewalks. It does the job just as well and you will save water.
How do you wash your car?
| Bucket of water | 2 Drops |
| Garden hose with spray nozzle turned on and off | 1 Drop |
| Garden hose with no spray nozzle | 0 Drops |
Tip: Use a bucket of water to wash your car instead of letting the
garden hose continually run. If you use a garden hose to rinse your car,
turn the water on and off as needed.
Your Home Water Conservation Score
- 20 to 30: Excellent! You are possibly saving
hundreds of gallons of water each month. Share your Water Smart Tips with
family, friends, and neighbors.
- 10 to 20: Good! Read through the Water Smart Tips and
adopt two water saving tips this month and two more next month.
- 10 or below: Needs Improvement! Read through the
Water Smart Tips and adopt three water saving tips this month and three
more next month. ■
