Although roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is water, less than 1% of it is available for direct human use — including irrigation, industry and domestic use. It is a precious resource and shouldn’t be wasted. Unfortunately, American homes use more than half of the publicly supplied water in the country, reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is significantly more than is used by either business or industry. In addition, the U.S. Government Accountability Office in a May 2014 freshwater report notes that water managers in 40 of 50 states expect water shortages in some portion of their states under average water conditions by 2023.
Plumbing contractors and engineers can help conserve water by recommending and designing water-efficient products to their customers. For example, toilets are one of the largest users of water inside a home or a business — and water-efficient toilets offer the biggest opportunity for savings. The more gal. per flush a toilet has, the more potential for higher water savings after replacement.