Drinking water is a limited, not an endless resource. The days of “high-flow” plumbing
appliances, designed for an era of cheap and plentiful water, are over. NOW is the time to
replace these wasting appliances with water saving devices – devices that will save thousands of gallons of water every year and at the same time reduce the wastewater load on sewer and septic systems. Of course, saving water means SAVING MONEY!
Three major conservation steps that each household can easily undertake to save water
and money are:
1. Shower Heads:
Replace the “high-flow” shower head, which uses 5-10 gallons a minute
with a low-flow shower head, which uses 2.4 gallons a minute.
Ex. 4 showers, 25 minutes total:
High-flow water use: 125 gallons
Low-flow water use: 55 gallons
2. Faucets:
Install faucet aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets. Most faucets,
wide open, can use 4 gallons a minute. Installing an aerator cuts this to
2.5 gallons a minute.
Ex. Family of 4, one day of use: Before - 26 gallons
After - 16 gallons
3. Toilets:
Most toilets use 5-7 gallons per flush. The new low-flush toilets require
only 1.6 gallons per flush. If possible, replace the old toilet, or install a
toilet dam (no tools needed).
Ex. Toilet, 20 flushes: Before - 110 gallons
After - 80 gallons (with toilet dam)
- 32 gallons (with low-flush toilet)
The above water saving devices may be obtained from plumbing and hardware stores. They
are also available, while the supply lasts, from the Foxborough Water and Sewer Department,
and can be purchased Monday-Thursday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 8:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, as well as Tuesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Shower Head: $ 3.00
- Faucet Aerator: $ .50
- Rain gauge $ .85
Each of these items can be purchased separately. The payback
for the total cost of these items is approximately one month
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