Conservation | City of St. Louis

Why Conservation Matters

While St. Louisans currently do not have to worry about a water shortage, it is important to remember that water is a limited resource. There is the same amount of water on Earth today as there was 3 billion years ago, and only 1% of Earth’s water is available for human consumption. Making the effort to conserve water now can help to avoid water shortages in the future.

Leaks and Household Water Loss

Usage Factors - Faucets and Toilets

A steady drip wastes 1 gallon every 15 minutes.
A steady trickle wastes 1 gallon every 4 minutes.
A steady stream wastes 1 gallon every minute.
Dripping faucets and leaking toilets can account for up to 14% of indoor water use, equivalent to 10 gallons per person per day.

Conservation Tips

Inspect all faucets, toilets, and outside spigots for leaks.
Repair dripping faucets and leaking toilets promptly.
Replace worn washers or valve seats to prevent leaks.

Indoor Water

Usage Factors - Household use

Toilet – 40% of daily household water use (3 – 6 gal. per flush)

Bath and Shower – 32% of daily household water use (20 – 40 gal. per session)

Laundry – 14% of daily household water use (30 – 35 gal. per load)

Kitchen – 11% of daily household water use (10 gal. per sink load, 25 gal. per dishwasher cycle)

Bathroom Sink – 3% of daily household water use

Conservation Tips

Toilets

Flush only when necessary; do not use the toilet as a trash disposal.
Every flush uses the equivalent of 26 glasses of drinking water.
Check for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank; colored water in the bowl indicates a leak.
Place a water-filled jug in the tank to reduce water per flush.
Upgrade to a high-efficiency toilet to save up to 20,000 gallons per year.

Bath and Shower

Plug the drain before filling the tub; fill only as much as needed.
Keep showers short and turn off water while soaping or shampooing.
Install a low-flow showerhead.

Laundry

Match water levels to the load size or wash only full loads.
Presoak heavily soiled items and use only the recommended amount of detergent.
Consider high-efficiency washers, which use ~30% less water.

Dishwashing

Install an aerator or flow restrictor on faucets.
Do not pre-rinse; soak pots and pans before washing.
Run the dishwasher only when full and repair leaks.
Use only the recommended amount of detergent.

Bathroom Sink

Plug the drain and use only the water needed.
Turn off water while brushing teeth.
Install a low-flow faucet aerator.

Outdoor Water

Outdoor water use can account for up to 60% of household water, averaging 117 gallons per home per day.

Conservation Tips

Pools

Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation.
Repair leaks promptly.
Manually clean filters to save water.
Monitor water levels to prevent overfilling.

Lawns and Gardens

Water slowly in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation.
Allow grass to grow taller in hot weather for natural shade.
Use mulch to retain soil moisture.
Plant native species and drought-tolerant shrubs.
Consider alternatives to large lawns.

Garden Hoses

Use only as much water as necessary; avoid letting hoses run unnecessarily.

Fire Hydrant Safety

Fire hydrants provide critical water for firefighting. Unauthorized use is dangerous and illegal.

Risks of Illegal Use

Reduces water pressure needed for firefighting.
Wastes millions of gallons of water and energy.
Increases water bills and damages infrastructure.
Creates traffic hazards.
Violators may face up to 1 year in jail and a $500 fine.