Water Efficiency

Currently, 78 percent of Alabama is experiencing extreme drought, and more than 58 percent of the state is experiencing exceptional drought. Extreme drought in a region means that major loss of crop or pasture is likely, fire risk is extreme, and water shortages and restrictions are widespread; exceptional drought indicates extreme water shortages in reservoirs, wells, river and streams, which can result in water emergencies.

The average American uses up to 100 gallons of water each day - enough to fill up 1600 eight-ounce glasses! Most water used indoors is used in the bathroom, and adding water-efficient fixtures to your bathroom not only saves water, but it also saves energy. Consider adding a water-efficient toilet to your home. If just one percent of homes in American switched to a high-efficiency toilet, which uses 75-80 percent less water than older versions, we could save enough electricity to power 43,000 homes for one month!

(Sources: U.S. Drought Monitor: October 9, 2007: Alabama. http://drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_state.htm?AL,SE; EPA WaterSense Program. "Using Water Efficiently: Ideas for Residences," http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/res.htm and "Benefits of Water Efficiency," http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/benefits.htm)