Water Conservation at Home

Glass of Water

We all have a role to play in conserving water and being responsible water consumers. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an average person uses 80 gallons of water per day. Saving water also saves energy: you use energy to warm up water for a hot shower, for running washing and drying machines, and for running a dishwasher, to name a few examples.

The environment benefits from reduced water consumption, too! By reducing water usage, less water is diverted from natural water sources for healthier rivers, lakes or streams. This also reduces costs for wastewater treatment systems as a result of the smaller volume of water used.

St. Anthony residents can use the "My Water Usage" tool to track their water consumption throughout the year through an easy online portal! Now, it is easier than ever to keep an eye on your household water usage with this tool.

Continue reading for additional tips, resources, and information on water conservation!

Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation

Wyland Water Challenge 2019 Opens in new window

The Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation is an annual campaign that takes places every year on April 1-30. This challenge promotes drought resiliency and protection of water quality throughout the country. Through a friendly competition, cities compete to see who can earn the title of "Most Water-Wise" city in the nation!

Residents make a pledge to change behaviors in their water consumption at home and throughout their everyday lives, in an effort to reduce human impact on lakes, rivers, streams, and other water systems. By participating, residents can also win some cool prizes!

St. Anthony continues to participate in this challenge and invites all residents to join in reducing the City's water consumption to help preserve our precious water resources. All St. Anthony residents can make a pledge by visiting mywaterpledge.com.

Water-Saving Tips

  • Turn off the water while you wash your hands and brush your teeth. The Environmental Protection Agency has calculated that this practice can save more than 200 gallons of water per month in a household.
  • Take a shower instead of a bath. Showers with water efficient shower heads use 10-25 gallons of water for a 10 minute shower, while the average bathtub takes up to 70 gallons of water.
  • Check your faucets and toilets for leaks. The USGS Water Science School has an Online Drip Calculator you can use to calculate how much water you will save by fixing those drips.
  • Raise your lawn mower cutting height. Longer grass needs less water. Grass that is watered less frequently also develops a stronger root system.
  • Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants. It minimizes evaporation and reduces weed growth.
  • Reduce your lawn watering time. Water for limited periods of time and do it in the morning to minimize evaporation.
  • Consider obtaining a rain barrel. Collect the rain water and use it to water your plants.

Water-Saving Devices & Tools

Below are tools to save water consequentially save energy as well. Orders and installations are quick and easy, so get yours today!

  • Shower Heads: Look for the EPA Certified WaterSense logo when purchasing a shower head. If a store doesn't have them in stock, many have them available online.
  • Spray Valves: For large sinks, save 35,000 gallons and over $400 per year for each spray valve replaced
  • Toilet Leak Testing: Test your toilet for leaks by ordering free leak-finder tablets.
  • Water Faucet Aerators: Save 21,000 gallons and $180 per year for each aerator replaced
Click here to view WaterSense labeled products.