Saving water at school and at home

We all use water on a daily basis for drinking, cleaning, bathing, etc. But have you ever considered the importance of water use and how it’s managed? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, restrooms and landscaping are the highest sources of water use in schools. Fortunately at LPS, these are the two areas we focus on most when it comes to using water sustainably. In newer buildings, this includes sensored faucets that shut off automatically, along with low-flow sinks, toilets, and water fountains. In addition, LPS prides itself on being highly efficient with irrigation practices throughout the district by avoiding water intensive plants and only watering athletic fields when necessary.

While we continue to strive for water savings in our buildings, you can join us by taking on your own initiatives at home! Installing easy technical upgrades and making an effort to monitor your water systems can go a long way towards saving water – and money. Water usage is an often forgotten but significant cost to homeowners, so taking every step to minimize wasted water is both environmentally and financially responsible.

The majority of water (about 60%) for the average household is used in the bathroom, according to the American Water Works Association. This is an excellent place to focus on when beginning to reduce water waste in your home. From there, you can expand efforts to the kitchen, laundry room, outdoors, etc. Here are just a few simple, easy-to-incorporate tips to get you started in saving water in your home – remember, these are all easy, yet efficient ways to help the environment and save some money along the way:

  • Limit time in the shower as much as possible – a ten minute shower alone can use up to 25 gallons of water. Avoid taking baths altogether (up to 70 gallons!).
  • Remember to turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth
  • Only run the dishwasher or do laundry with full loads
  • If you do not use a dishwasher, be sure to fill the sink just halfway and scrub dishes instead of washing them under a running faucet
  • Remember to tightly shut off all faucets, both outside and inside
  • Avoid using landscape sprinklers if possible – they may keep your lawn green, but they are also a huge water hog
  • Upgrade to more efficient, low-flow fixtures – these upgrades pay for themselves quickly in water savings
  • Check for and fix any leaks around the house. As shown in the chart above, leaks can surprisingly make up a significant portion of wasted water.

Updated March 14, 2024