According to the EPA, at least 36 states anticipate local, regional or statewide water shortages by 2013. Fortunately, HGTVPro.com's comprehensive water conservation guide is preparing homeowners with tips from HGTV experts, along with information on products and corresponding installation instructions.
Here are some tips:
-- Store rainwater for your lawn and landscape with a rain barrel or rainwater pillow.
-- Installing a hot water circulation system is an easy and relatively inexpensive means of reducing the time it takes for shower/bath water to heat up, saving valuable gallons of water every year.
-- Revamp landscaping using native plants, which are drought-tolerant and require less water to maintain.
-- Invest in an advanced plumbing system to seriously crack down on water use, making the home more efficient.
-- Low-flow, water-saving toilets significantly reduce the amount of fresh water consumed and the corresponding amount of blackwater generated.
In addition to these general techniques, HGTVPro.com lists products to help make the conservation initiative a success:
-- NRGideas Series Shower heads flows at 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) -- less than the required flow rate of 2.0 gpm by the EPA WaterSense criteria -- for the feel of a great shower without the high water usage.