Toilets use the most water in our homes. Every day, Americans flush 4.8 billion gallons of water down the toilet. [1] Reducing the amount of water that your toilet is flushing away will go a long way to saving water in your home and helping to conserve it generally. With one easy adjustment, you’ll save money, water and the environment… one flush at a time.
Step One
Fill a half gallon container. A plastic bottle (juice/milk) is ideal. Remove any paper or plastic label on the outside of the container. Fill it at least partially with pebbles, sand, or gravel – whatever is handy. Then add water if more weight is needed. If you just fill it with water, though, the container will move around in the tank and interfere with the mechanism.
Step Two
Place the container in the tank of the toilet.
Step Three
Carefully lower it into the water.
Step Four
Replace the lid of the tank.
Step Five
Flush away. The New York Times reported that a sealed half gallon container will save half a gallon on each flush. If you, like most Americans, flush 5 times daily, your family of 5 will save 350 gallons (1325 liters) of water every month [2]. These savings will significantly cut your water bill, too.
Step Six
Send this article to your friends. Such an easy answer to saving money and protecting our water supplies is something to share around!