How Your Toilet Might Be Contributing To the Global Water Crisis

In the last 24 hours, you have used about 100 gallons of water. More than 450 billion gallons of water is used in the United States every day. It is a vital, precious resource, yet so much of it is wasted. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), between 5 and 10 percent of houses lose 90 gallons a day or more from water leaks, many as a result of old fixtures in leaky toilets and faucets. Simple toilet repair can save you hundreds in water costs. About 30% of all water used in a home is used by the toilet. The installation of new, efficient fixtures could reduce water lost by more than 30,000 gallons and we could save more than 177 billion gallons of water annually if just 5% of those with severe leaks had them repaired.

An average household can lose more than 10,000 gallons of water through leaks every year; this is equivalent to the water used for 270 loads of laundry. Nationally household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons per year. But fixing these leaks can result in a saving of 10% on water bills. Leaky pipes can waste a great deal of water with even a one-eighth inch (3-millimeter) crack in a pipe being capable of losing more than 250 gallons of water a day.

Plumbing repair saves water, cuts costs and limits environmental damage. When you consider that water is a finite resource, one in 10 people lack access to safe water and one in three do not even have access to a toilet, according to Water.org, saving water becomes even more vital. By cutting down on water use by investing in plumbing repairs and initiating water saving behavior, you can make a significant difference to the global water crisis.

Addressing plumbing issues and toilet repairs sooner rather than later will also minimize the risk of the need for emergency plumbing services, which can cost a great deal more. Changing behaviors such as taking shorter showers, not leaving the faucet running while you brush your teeth and reusing water for other purposes such as watering the lawn or filling the swimming pool can also make a significant difference. In fact, according to the Department Of Water Supply, if we all flushed the toilet one less time per day, we could save a lake full of water a mile long, a mile wide, and four feet deep daily.