How to save water in an apartment? Proven and most effective methods

Why save water

High tariffs will not surprise anyone now.

Taking into account drainage and heating, the price of a cubic meter of cold water is 35 rubles, hot water - 125 rubles.

Consumption rates for hot and cold water supply are 5 cubic meters.

Depending on the level of reduction in water consumption, you can save up to 10,000 rubles per year.

The environmental situation in the world cannot be called encouraging. Most natural resources are used up faster than they can be restored. Water is also no exception. To preserve the ecosystem, everyone should strive to consume economically.

How much water do we use?

A large amount of consumption accumulates unnoticed, like an impressive amount of unnoticed everyday expenses. It consists of all household processes for which the water tap is opened. The standards prescribe the average number of hygiene procedures, shower time and other needs with water consumption for them.

Plumbing

The advantage of a lever tap is that it allows you to save up to 8 liters per minute when adjusting the water temperature. In the case of twist-off faucets, we first turn on the hot water, and it flows while we turn on the cold water and try to adjust the temperature.

Those thinking about how to save water in an apartment should take a closer look at toilets with a double flush system . There are two buttons on their drain tank: one for maximum flow, the second for economical flow, when only part of the liquid accumulated in the tank is drained. The button is selected depending on the dirt.

Important! Of the 250 liters consumed by the average city dweller, 30% is literally flushed down the toilet.

You should regularly check the shut-off valves of the drain tank, because small leaks are often unnoticeable for a long time. You can identify them yourself if you open the lid and drop a little dye into the water, for example, laundry blue. Do not flush for several hours, and if dye remains on the walls of the tank bowl, then water will leak (most likely into the toilet itself - in this case you will see a thin colored mark on it). Such leaks must be eliminated by adjusting the operation of the shut-off valves.

Bath or shower?

Those who love relaxation in the bathroom should be reminded that a shower is a more economical option for hygiene procedures, especially if the mixer is equipped with a watering can with a fine spray of water. Compared to the standard one, it will help reduce water consumption by at least half.

On a note! On average, a 5-minute shower requires 70 liters of water. A standard bathroom 170x70x50 holds almost 600 liters. The savings are obvious.

Aerator nozzle

Special attachments on the faucet to save water also help reduce consumption by three times . It is recommended to install them in both the kitchen and bathroom. The principle of their operation is based on mixing a water jet and air.

A water-saving aerator will not only reduce your bill, but will also provide other benefits:

• will create a uniform stream, without splashes and pressure surges;
• allows you to choose standard or intensive filling of containers;
• will purify the water and enrich it with oxygen;
• will prevent the formation of limescale on dishes in which water is boiled.

If a standard faucet supplies an average of 12 liters per minute, then one equipped with a nozzle delivers only 4 liters, while the pressure does not deteriorate and it is possible to regulate the water supply speed.

All aerators-nozzles for household use are easily mounted on the faucet. They are compact and do not spoil the appearance of the faucets. Some models can rotate, allowing you to choose a convenient angle for the direction of the jet. And in order for the device to last longer, it is enough not to turn it on at full power and not to wash it with cleaning agents (it is enough to regularly wipe it with a damp cloth).

Water heater and dishwasher

Due to the regular shutdown of hot water supply in the summer, many people install water heaters. Flow models are more effective if you consume:

• up to 150-250 liters per day - savings of up to 35%:
• more than 250-300 l/day – save up to 15%.

If you choose an electric boiler, then try to turn it on at night, when tariffs for electricity consumption are lower - you can also save on electricity bills.

Important! Do not force the water heater to always maintain the maximum heating temperature.

Does a dishwasher save water? Depending on the model, up to 60 liters per use, but only if you turn on the dishwasher with a full load.

The secret to efficient resource consumption is simple - modern models purify used water for re-washing dishes and supply jets under high pressure, as a result of which cups and bowls are washed faster with less consumption. To pay less for electricity, turn on the dishwasher at night.

Ways to save water

According to the criterion of legality, saving methods are legitimate and illegitimate. If legal methods are not only not condemned, but are also recommended for use, then it is better to abandon illegal ones.

Based on their essence, the following methods of saving water are distinguished:

• Proper use of plumbing and household appliances
• Purchasing economical plumbing and household appliances
• Improving plumbing and household appliances

Adviсe:

• If the number of residents in the apartment does not exceed the number registered, install meters. Calculated standards are far from real figures. They do not take into account that a person buys ready-made food and bottles of drinking water, is at work during the day, or uses the laundry. Such nuances seriously affect water consumption. Modern metering devices can even take into account such a moment as the drain from the tap. Until the liquid reaches the desired temperature, the readings will change on the cold water supply meter;
• It is necessary to monitor the condition of plumbing in order to carry out repairs in a timely manner. Due to a dripping faucet, losses can amount to 8 cubic meters per year, and a leak in the toilet cistern will increase costs tenfold:
• a shower instead of a bath is a good solution for a prudent person;
• turn off the tap while shaving or brushing your teeth;
• if you pre-soak a large number of dirty dishes, you will need less effort and liquid;
• Washing dishes immediately after eating makes your work much easier;
• do not flush the contents of the trash can down the toilet
• defrost food in advance, then you won’t have to do it under a hot stream;
• wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl, and after washing you can drain the moisture into the toilet cistern;
• collect condensation from the air conditioner pipe;
• do not flush construction waste down the toilet;
• after a temporary lack of water supply in the apartment, wait until the neighbors remove the rust at their own expense;
• store water in the refrigerator in the summer so as not to wait for a cold stream to come out of the heated pipes;
• When cooking and cleaning the apartment, use only cheap cold water;

Drip-drip!

30-40 cubic meters leak per year through a drainage tap in the bathroom or kitchen. Tariffs in the regions are different, but if we take as an example the standard prices for Muscovites, who in 2020 paid 35.4 rubles for a cubic meter of drinking water, then for a dripping faucet you had to pay more than a thousand rubles a year.

Therefore, when deciding how to save water at home, first of all, check the condition of the faucets . Experts recommend installing lever mixers - they are more efficient, durable and shut off the water more reliably. Their analogues, clockwise rotating ball valves, have a lot of disadvantages:

• often they do not turn all the way, for example, if they are too tight, and the child or grandfather does not have enough strength;
• gasket seals fail faster, especially if the mixer is made in Asia.

Of course, ball mixers may not create problems if they are new and of good quality. If the taps are old, then they must be replaced so as not to pay for the annoying “drip-drip” in the kitchen or bathroom.

Reducing water consumption in the kitchen

Dishwasher

It is necessary to ensure that the dishwasher is fully loaded, otherwise resources are wasted. Purchase equipment of the size required for your family.

Mixer

Use of aerators.

An aerator is an attachment to the faucet spout that disperses the flow into thin streams. Thanks to this device, you can open the tap halfway, reducing the pressure.

Single lever tap

In single-lever mixers, the process of adjusting the flow temperature is faster than in mixers with two valves.

Ecopedal

Use the pedal for water. Manufacturers claim that consumption can be reduced by 2 times due to the fact that it becomes possible to turn off the tap even when both hands are occupied, and there is no need to adjust the temperature each time the mixer is used.

Saving water in the bathroom

Thermostat

While we are adjusting the temperature in the shower, about 8 liters of liquid are drained down the drain. The shower thermostat regulates the temperature to the required level.

Water collection bag

While the temperature and jet pressure are being adjusted, a special bag with a handle and hose collects water, which can be used for washing floors.

Washing machine

Buy a washing machine that is large enough to handle a full load of laundry. When using, select the mode most suitable for the fabric. The “delicate wash” mode consumes more water than the “economy” mode.

Nozzles

Devices for faucets, water heaters and shower heads dilute the stream with air bubbles, reducing the flow force.

Boiler

For a large family in conditions of high utility tariffs, it is beneficial to install a water heater and a two-tariff electric meter in the apartment. This will allow you to use water heated at night for morning procedures.

Gearbox

Pressure regulators allow you to reduce the pressure in the water supply system to a comfortable level.

Shower Nebia

Thanks to innovative technology, the stream is sprayed into many tiny droplets, enveloping the human body in a cloud of warm fog. Despite all its effectiveness, the price of a shower is quite high.

Curtain with spikes

The amazing curtains, designed by Elisabeth Bucher from London, have pockets that, after filling with liquid in 4 minutes, turn into spikes that push you out of the bathroom. Fans of long singing in the shower are unlikely to like this new product.

Touch sensors

A touch sensor is installed on the faucet that opens the tap when you move your hands, so the tap is open only when your hands are under it.

Wash seat

The device allows you to take a bath while sitting and collects used water in an internal container for further use for household needs.

Reducing toilet water consumption

Small toilet cistern

The size of a standard toilet cistern is 10 liters. By purchasing a 6-liter model for your apartment, you reduce consumption by almost half.

Separate flush system

There are two buttons on the tank, corresponding to two modes: “full drain” and “small drain”. In the first mode, the entire contents of the tank are reset, and in the second - 3-4 liters. The two-level flush system reduces toilet fluid consumption by 30 percent.

Float adjustment

After manually shifting the “float” position by 5-10 cm, the liquid will be collected to a new level after each flush.

Bottle in the tank

A very simple and effective way to change the volume of the contents of the toilet tank is to place several full liter plastic bottles there. If you put 4 bottles in a ten-liter tank, you will save 6 liters with each flush.

Combo toilet

Modern manufacturers offer a mixed version of the faucet and toilet. In this option, after washing your hands, the stream is directed not into the sewer pipe, but into the toilet cistern for reuse.

Saving water at home

• It is convenient to use a hose to wash a car, but a bucket and a rag will save several tens of liters of water. If you use safe detergents, you can water your garden with the remaining liquid;
• Water your garden using a watering can or attach a diffuser nozzle to your hose. To effectively care for plants, you can use economical and convenient automatic watering systems with timers;
• Do not water the garden during rainy or windy hours. It’s good if you do this in the morning or evening, when moisture does not evaporate;
• Do not hose down sidewalks or driveways. It is better to use a bucket or sweep the area;
• Cover the outdoor pool with a protective awning, which will reduce evaporation during hot weather;
• Place a rain barrel in your yard to collect rain for cleaning or watering plants;

Illegal water saving methods

Nowadays, when people's cunning is much greater than their salary, many resort to unusual ways of saving money. We will look at a number of such methods and decide whether they are worth using:

• Neodymium magnet;
  A device attached to the back wall of the metering device. It can be quickly dismantled during inspection. Many modern meters are produced with a seal that turns black when a magnet is attached. The magnet is very difficult to select and using it may cause the meter to fail.
• Inserting pipes to the meter;
  This fact is easily detected by inspectors, since it is very difficult to hide the entry point of one pipe into another.
• Needle;
  Some people manage to insert a needle into the body of the metering device, which slows down the movement of the impeller and prevents the increase in accounting indicators.
• Connection via filter;
  When installing the meter, a coarse filter is installed. Craftsmen connect to it and use unaccounted for water. Another option is to connect a vacuum cleaner to the filter and then pump out air, the flow of which rewinds the readings.

If you have distorted the data from your metering devices, this will become clear at the end of the month when you compare the readings of individual meters in apartments with the communal metering devices. In the vast majority of cases, all illegitimate methods of saving water are discovered and the homeowner is subject to sanctions. If a violation is discovered, the citizen will be issued a fine.

The procedure for calculating the fine: Fine = average monthly water consumption * 36 (months) * 10 (established coefficient).

Considering the fine, the need to replace faulty devices and the high probability of detecting violations, I do not recommend using illegal methods of influencing meter readings.

Important points

When deciding how to save water, it is worth remembering that the chosen methods should not reduce the level of comfort. Of course, you can open the taps only on weekends and rinse the dishes with unfinished tea, but such options do not fit into the picture of comfortable life in a city apartment.

Let us remind you that not all water saving methods offered on the Internet are legal. Thus, the installation of widely advertised rewinding devices that force the meter to spin in the opposite direction promises numerous problems. More often, “enterprising” residents attach neodymium magnets, which leads to an increase in the volume of unaccounted for resources. Their payment is “spread out” among all residents.

In addition, the legislation provides for more significant punishments than pangs of conscience due to planting a pig on neighbors:

• fine – 10-15 thousand rubles (Article 7.19 of the Administrative Code);
• fine up to 300 thousand rubles. or 80 thousand rubles. and 2 years in prison (Article 165 of the Criminal Code);
• full payment at the standard rate from the moment of the last water meter verification.

On a note! The violating owner is also obliged to eliminate the identified violations within 30 days (clause 81.12 of the Rules for the provision of utility services).

After installing water meters, it is important to ensure that they are working properly. They should “wind” only when the resource is actually consumed and stop when the water intake stops.

How to save money in different countries

• in Europe, easily soluble detergents are popular, allowing you to wash dishes in cold water;
• Koreans prefer colorful and non-staining shirts to reduce washing costs;
• the British always leave the plugs in the sink and sink, not using running water when washing dishes;
• Germans rinse dishes, turn off the tap, and polish plates and mugs with detergent. Then, without rinsing, wipe dry with wet wipes. Also in Germany, washing machines and dishwashers are used only when fully loaded;
• The French always turn off the tap when brushing their teeth;
• in the Netherlands it is considered normal to wash in fitness centers;
• In Japan, several family members take a bath in the same water after taking a minute shower.

We also recommend reading:

Renting a home or having a mortgage? What to choose? Let's count together How to store money with almost no risk Family budget. What is this? How to manage it correctly and save money? How to save water in an apartment with a meter?

How to save water in an apartment?

Let family members or roommates know to conserve water.

It makes sense to save water, and all family members or residents should participate in this. Otherwise, the efforts will have no effect. At this stage, it is worth mentioning the most common mistakes that prevent us from saving water.

The first is to brush your teeth with the water on. This frequent habit leads to wastage of water, and with it additional costs. Another opens the tap to wash his hair, leaves it open, and he runs to the room across the apartment for shampoo. Each family member must break bad habits in order to achieve the common goal of reducing the amount of water consumed.