We are very fortunate to live in an area of the world that has an abundance of fresh water. Central New York is blessed with plentiful natural aquifers, clean lakes and streams, and a climate that replenishes them quite regularly. This doesn't mean we shouldn't conserve water when possible. If you are planning on a new home or addition in the near future, consider installing LEED's rated toilets for more efficient water use. These units are available in both 1.28 gallon flush models and also dual flush models that give you the option of under a gallon or 1.6 gallon flushes. The current standard flush units utilize 1.6 gallon only. This might not sound like much of a difference, but over time can be a considerable water savings. If you currently have an older model toilet chances are it's using between 2-3 gallons per flush, so an upgrade from that is an even better savings.
Low flow faucets are another option for water savings when building new. For existing faucets, there are flow restriction inserts available for many units that don't require replacement to cut down on water usage. Consider rain water barrels to store water runoff from your roof downspouts. This water is ideal for lawn and garden irrigation for those summer months when we sometimes see dry spells.
Leaky faucets should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. That slow drip adds up to a lot of wasted water over the long haul. We can't take for granted anymore this wonderful natural resource we enjoy here.
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