How Plumbing Services Help Conserve Water

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.2.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″]

A Widespread Water Usage Problem

Earth’s freshwater supply is rapidly dwindling according to numerous sources. With the planet’s population continually increasing, demand could easily outweigh supply before long. This is sure to create plenty of difficulties for future generations. Though treatment facilities go a long way toward replenishing usable water, the Earth only has so much available, to begin with. As pollution progresses, even the comparably small amount available isn’t going to hold out much longer.

People often consider a lack of usable water to be a third-world problem. While this is largely true, the issue is hitting much closer to home than most people realize. Global climate change increased flooding, and drought is having a significant negative impact on freshwater availability right here in America. Pollution from livestock waste, chemical fertilizers and other agricultural runoff is also seeping into the nation’s water supply. Industrial waste can’t be overlooked, either. All this leaves authorities in 40 out of 50 states with a bleak outlook for the coming decade based on some figures.

A Readily Available Solution

Experts point out a greater focus on thwarting pollution will be the key to preserving freshwater moving forward. Efforts have been underway for decades now with a wide range of agencies dedicated to the cause. Ample progress has been made at this point, but the country still has a long way to go. From some perspectives, the full extent of current pollution issues isn’t fully understood yet, so finding viable solutions is going to require more extensive research.

Reducing the amount of water being wasted on a daily basis is also a primary concern across the nation. Average families can’t necessarily stop industrial and agricultural pollution, but they can make a commitment to conservation. Plumbing Services in Newark may be a practical and effective solution in this regard. Raising awareness of the many household water consumption issues is also crucial to breaking the current cycle.

hot water heaterReducing Individual Use

By some accounts, the average American uses 88 gallons of water each day for routine tasks like showering, washing hands, brushing teeth, and flushing toilets. Turning off the water while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, running only full loads through washing machines and dishwashers, and other practices have been advised for quite some time to help reduce water use. These efforts alone aren’t going to be enough to ward off the coming dilemma, though. Having low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets installed is now being recommended as well. These more efficient fixtures could potentially help each family save 13,000 gallons of water or more per year, and they can be installed by professionals.

Combating Noticeable Waste

Toilets that constantly run are a common problem. Most people don’t consider this to be a significant issue other than running up the monthly water bill to a degree, being a bit annoying at times, and creating less-than-amusing scalding events at shower time. Behind the scenes, though, some studies indicate a single toilet running continually can waste more than 4,300 gallons of water per day for a grand total of almost 19,000 gallons each month. Eliminating this issue often takes little more than replacing the toilet flapper or flush valve, either of which is a simple but highly effective Plumbing Repair.

Dripping faucets are yet another typical household issue. Intermittent drips may not seem like a big deal, but again, these situations are much more troublesome than most people realize. Even if a faucet only drips once per second, the loss adds up to about five gallons each day or just over 2,000 gallons per year. Remedying the problem may be as simple as replacing a gasket, tightening a part, or removing mineral buildup from internal components.

Fighting Unseen Problems

According to a recent report, plumbing leaks are accountable for wasting as much as 9,400 gallons of water per household each year. Finding these leaks can be as simple as checking under sinks and water heaters, around toilets and tubs, and behind washing machines and dishwashers. Of course, though those may be common culprits, some leaks aren’t so easy to spot.

In many cases, leaks are concealed behind walls and under floors. Sometimes, they’ve even hidden underground well away from the house they’re leading to or away from. Sprinkler systems are common culprits. Many leaks even stem from main lines and municipal sources. These leaks generally start out small, but they grow over time. To make matters worse, they’re silent and unseen, so no one knows they’re there.

Though these leaks may not be obvious at first glance, they often come with certain warning signs. Dark patches on walls or ceilings and weak spots in floors can be surefire indications of hidden leaks. Unexplained increases in water bills may signify such problems as well. Gradual or sudden drops in water pressure can also be indicative of problematic leaks.

Pinpointing these leaks typically takes more in-depth measures than finding the more noticeable ones. Specialized leak detection equipment is designed to seek out changes in water pressure that indicate where a leak may be present. Authorities recommend having plumbing systems professionally inspected at least once each year to help find leaks as early as possible before they have a chance to get out of hand. Various methods may be required for remedying any leaks found during these inspections. They can be as simple as tightening a fitting or as complicated as partial or total Repiping.

All Things Considered

Science has proven all the water here on Earth has been here since hydrogen and oxygen were first combined. It simply recycles itself via evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. That being said, the amount of freshwater available for consumption is rapidly being replaced by polluted, unusable water. If consumption, waste, and pollution continue along the same path they’ve been on, the problem is only going to get worse.

Large-scale efforts are underway to reduce pollution and help save what little fresh, usable water is left on the planet. Household conservation is also vital to the movement. By reducing the amount of water each person uses and remedying the many plumbing issues present in most homes, the freshwater supply may hold out quite a bit longer than experts are expecting.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]