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SHOWER AND SINK SAVINGS
More savings can be found in combination tubs that use a diverter to switch between bath and shower functionality. Older diverters often leak and can be easily replaced with newer models for substantial savings.
Find out your leak rate by putting a bucket under the tub spout while the shower is running. After one minute, measure the water collected in the bucket to determine the diverter leak rate. If the bucket collects more than one-tenth of a gallon of water, it should be replaced.
In addition, replacing inefficient showerheads with WaterSense showerheads can save the average family 2,900 gallons of water a year, according to the EPA. Plus, since these showerheads also reduce water heating demands, there is a secondary energy savings as well. The EPA estimates that if every home in the country installed WaterSense showerheads, we could save more than $2.2 billion in water utility bills and more than $2.6 billion in water heating costs.
Many of the complaints about low water flow from these aerated showerheads are actually caused by scale build up. When possible, inspect aerators to make sure that the flow is not restricted. Cleaning the existing aerator, or replacing it if necessary, can go a long way towards making sure tenants are happy and saving water without complaint.
The same maintenance is needed on bathroom and kitchen sink aerators, as these simple accessories can reduce waterflow by 30 percent without impacting performance—if they are kept clean. But, just as in the shower, scale accrual can occur due to mineral build up. Without regular maintenance, tenants get frustrated and often remove these aerators to increase flow rate.
Installing tamper-proof water-saving accessories throughout your bathrooms and kitchens, and following up with maintenance checks so that the devices are behaving as they should, will go a long way towards assuring that residents comply with your conservation goals.
WATER SAVINGS INDOORS AND OUT
After you tackle the big water wasters indoors, don’t forget to upgrade your green spaces as well. The easiest way to lower maintenance and water needs is by replacing thirsty lawns and other water-loving landscaping with native, drought-tolerant plantings.
Native plants generally need to be watered every 2 to 3 weeks during long stretches without rain, and not at all once they are established.
Once you’ve switched to plants that don’t need a lot of water to thrive, be sure to check for other irrigation inefficiencies. It’s estimated that up to 50 percent of outdoor irrigation is wasted in most systems. But smart sprinkler controllers can help reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation and runoff by connecting with public weather information to automatically change settings based on what’s in the forecast. Most can be controlled through an app on your phone and configured based on your property’s landscaping, soil type, slope and more.
These smart devices can range from under $100 to over $200, depending on the breadth of features and durability, with the simplest just shutting off irrigation if they detect rain. Many such devices are applicable for rebates as well.
Just as inside the property, leaks outside can also spill gallons of water and go unnoticed for long periods of time, racking up costly water bills. Leaks not only waste water, they also reduce the efficiency of the entire irrigation system by reducing water pressure throughout. Leak detection systems can help catch the problem early, or there’s always the low-tech approach of walking the property monthly when the irrigation is on to look for signs of trouble.
Finally, sweeping debris from sidewalks and driveways instead of blasting the hose can save 10 gallons of water a minute, according to the Water Education Foundation, a Sacramento-based nonprofit dedicated to outreach regarding water resource issues. Switching to a broom instead of the hose could easily mean over 1,000 gallons of water saved each week.
Taking these easy and affordable water conservation steps inside and outside the property can greatly impact your bottom line and help save our precious natural resources.
Emily Landes is the content director at Livable, a smart billing software company with products designed to save money, as well as the environment. To find out what Livable can do for your property, check out livable.com or call 877-789-6027.
CS-34 SEPTEMBER 2021 - APARTMENT MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE