Understanding where and how much water we use is the first step in beginning to conserve one of our most precious resources. This simple home water checkup will allow you to understand household consumption. After calculating your water patterns, you can begin to conserve in ways that work best for your lifestyle.

1.SHOWERS. Multiply the number of showers taken each day by members of your household by the average number of minutes spent in the shower; then multiply the result by 4 gallons per minute to determine water used for household showers each day.

2.BATHS. Multiply the number of baths taken each day by 40 gallons to determine daily water used for baths.

3.TOILETS. Multiply the number of people in your household by four flushes; then multiply the result times 5 gallons per flush to determine the amount of water used daily in your household toilets.

4.FAUCETS. Total the number of times household members use faucets to shave, brush teeth, and wash hands or faces. Multiply that number by the average minutes used; then multiply the result times 3 gallons per minute for the number of gallons used daily through faucets. Dripping faucets in the winter time can use about 1 gallon of water every 10 to 15 minutes per faucet. Multiplying this number by the minutes left on over a months time can lead to an extra 1 to 6 thousand gallons of water on your bill.

5.LAUNDRY. Multiply the number of loads of laundry washed each week times 55 gallons to determine gallons used per week. Divide this number by 7 to determine daily consumption of water for laundry.

6.DISHWASHER. Multiply the number of times the dishwasher is used each week times 15 gallons per load for the amount of water used weekly by the dishwasher. Divide that amount by 7 for daily consumption.

7.HAND WASHING DISHES. Multiply the number of times dishes are washed by hand each day times 3 gallons per minute; then multiply the result by the average number of minutes the water runs to determine daily water consumption for hand washing dishes.