2. Low Flow Showers
By installing low flow shower heads you can save water.
Put a leaf on the tree if you already have a low flow shower head, or install one during the course of our challenge.
A new shower head typically costs between $12 and $300. If you have an older shower head that is not low flow, you could reduce the flow by not opening the faucets as far as usual.
New faucet flow rates can’t exceed 2.5 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per square inch pressure or 2.2 gpm at 60 psi. You can achieve water savings of 25–60%.
- Here’s a quick test to determine whether you should replace a showerhead:
- Place a bucket—marked in gallon increments—under your shower head.
- Turn on the shower at the normal water pressure you use.
- Time how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket to the 1-gallon (3.8 liter) mark.
- If it takes less than 20 seconds to reach the 1-gallon mark, you could benefit from a low-flow shower head.
If you have a large shower, then maybe two people in your family can shower together and save water.