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Indoor Water Tips

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The average home in BC has a handful of appliances that use water on a daily basis. By adopting a few simple changes with how you use your appliances can make a significant reduction in the amount of water you use, often without making any real compromise to your routine.

 

 

<div class="ExternalClassA8729566ADB94E78A7D822C6FDFC8EB0"><p>Using fewer dishes throughout the day means fewer dishes to wash. Re-use water glasses and double-up on dishes used for preparing meals.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/favorite-glass.jpg, Favorite Glass https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/favorite-glass.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass3692B6B733FB42929CBC9D968966ED71"><p> Dishwasher settings such as 'eco' or 'quick wash' work just fine for most loads and use less water. Settings like 'heavy wash' use more water.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwasher-setting.jpg, Check Diswasher Settings https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwasher-setting.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass7B2AB6C8A14743BF8F1D3128A4F94D87"><p> <strong>Hand wash </strong>large pots and bowls to free up space for a full load in the dishwasher.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/handwash-pot.jpg, Handwash Pots https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/handwash-pot.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass49C3A2D226BC46D08793C9F7669ADEB3"><p><strong>Pre-rinsing dishes isn't necessary</strong> with today's dishwashers, and uses a lot of water. Just wipe remaining food into the compost.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwasher-use.jpg, Dishwasher Use less https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwasher-use.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass28F3C62DBA50444C928EEB792FC03E89"> <strong>Defrost food overnight </strong>in the fridge instead of thawing it under running water that ends up down the drain. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/frozen-food.jpg, Frozen foods https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/frozen-food.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassC5F995AD7DBB4C9299B44F8844ECF89A"> Kitchen sink <strong>food grinders require clean water</strong> to flush food scraps down the drain. Instead, compost your food scraps to be used in landscaping. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/compost.jpg, Compost kitchen scraps https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/compost.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassB06D75FEF9F94353A0BD01FC47AEFCBC"> Keep a pitcher of<strong> drinking water in the fridge</strong> instead of running the tap until the water cools. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/pitcher.jpg, Pitcher https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/pitcher.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassF5235E691F4240DEAB135D6943D0418A"> <strong>Running a full load of laundry</strong> uses less water than two half loads. Even with an efficient washer, one load a day uses 340 litres per week. Re-use towels throughout the week, hold off on washing jeans, and wait to run a full load.​ </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/full-laundry.jpg, Full laundry https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/full-laundry.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass38A5A78095184BDBA487D6C3887B8507"><p>A <strong>normal wash setting</strong> is often enough to get our clothes clean. Permanent press, heavy-duty soil settings and extra-rinse cycles use more water. Select the shortest laundry cycle setting for items that are only lightly soiled.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/less-laundry.jpg, Less laundry https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/less-laundry.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassD4C3063CDA6A49598E1B3380E73522B1"><p> <strong>Fill </strong>the washer, but<strong> don't jam it</strong>. Items must still move freely in the water and detergent to break up dirt. Leave a hand's width of space between the top of the drum and your clothes in a top-loading machine. Load your clothes to the top of the clear door in a front loader.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/overload.jpg, Overload https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/overload.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassA48DCB04CEBA4879BF61A13A5E046251"> <strong>​Reducing your shower</strong> by two minutes can save 460 litres of water in one month. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/shower.jpg, Shorten Showers https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/shower.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass3631C81A1B8B4654AC87803294EBE744"> <strong>Pre-treat stains</strong> and heavily soiled clothing right away, so they won't need to be washed twice. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/pretreat.jpg, Pretreat https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/pretreat.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass0428199C09234B1A9024606616A49CDB"> <strong>Turn off the tap</strong> when brushing teeth. It can save close to 700 litres of drinking water a month. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/brushing.jpg, Turn Off Tap when Brushing https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/brushing.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass590B29BA9DE0469ABE05022397E4CF68"><p>Turn off the tap when shaving.<strong> Fill the sink</strong> with a few inches of warm water<strong> to rinse your razo</strong>r - it works just as well as running the tap and uses less water.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/shaving.jpg, Shaving https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/shaving.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass8FBACA01944C4FCC80857E5C5A5B5C9E"><p>Plug the tub, then turn on the water when running a bath, and adjust the temperature as the tub fills.<br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/plug-tub.jpg, Plug Tub https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/plug-tub.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass1283FB199EB844D3994EB2B43DAB85DA"> Consider <strong>buying a dual-flush toilet</strong> which gives the option of a water-saving half flush. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dual-flush.jpg, Dual Flush https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dual-flush.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassFF33A6B1720B46A4892404034E1D0926"> <strong>Running full loads in the dishwasher</strong> uses less water than handwashing. The average cycle uses 23 litres of water no matter how many dishes are inside, so wait until you have a full​ load to run.​<br></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwasher.jpg, Full Dishwasher https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwasher.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass433AFFA8EF7F42ED84AE1890CC3DCD64"> Save the water from<strong> rinsing fruit and vegetables</strong> and use to water house or garden plants.</div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/rinse-fruit.jpg, Rinsing Fruit https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/rinse-fruit.jpg
<div class="ExternalClass6F01419B6C3642D5BC96AC781FB61FB6"> <strong>Don’t let the water run</strong> when washing dishes in the sink. Fill one side with water for washing and another for rinsing. </div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwashing.jpg, washing dishes https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/dishwashing.jpg
<div class="ExternalClassA741A0A12ACE4BD182A52FFB08D1AE78"><p>Use food colouring to<strong> test for a leaking toilet</strong>. Drop a teaspoon of food colouring into your toilet tank and if the colour appears in the bowl after 15 minutes, you've got a leak. Many leaks can be fixed by replacing the worn-out flapper valve.<strong></strong><br></p></div>https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/toilet-leak.jpg, Leaking toilets https://metrovancouver.org/welovewater/PublishingImages/toilet-leak.jpg

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