Conservation

Paavahu, Water Resources, are highly valued by the Hopi as the source of life in a harsh and arid environment.  The central focus in Hopi ceremonial life is the propitiation of moisture in its various forms.  Moisture provides for the domestic and agricultural needs of the Hopi people as well as the supernatural and spiritual essence of the Hopitutskwa, the Hopi indigenous lands.

Reasons to conserve water

1. Scarcity of supply. Water is a scarce resource.  There are limited sources of good drinking water.  Water must be used responsibly so that this life-giving resource is available for the needs of our children and future generations.
2. Save on your water and energy bills. Reducing water use may save you money.  Not only will you use less water, but you will also use less energy to heat it.
3. Save on maintenance. Reducing your water use reduces the amount of maintenance needed for your septic system or the village-maintained wastewater system.

How much water can you save?

You can find out how much water you can save by installing water efficient fixtures and appliances by downloading and filling out the worksheet, Estimating Water Use and Savings in Your Home, from the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension:

What can you do to conserve water?

Choose a water efficient clothes washer

Clothes washing machines can use anywhere from 9 gallons for front-loading machines to 19-25 gallons for top-loading machines. Choosing one that is water efficient is one of the most effective ways of conserving water in your home.

If you are considering purchasing a washing machine, here are a few you should consider. These washing machines have been chosen from the list of Energy Star certified units. These recommendations were chosen based on water efficiency, energy efficiency and local availability. Each of these were chosen because they are particularly water and energy efficient compared to other machines in their price range.

*Keep in mind that Kenmore washing machines are regularly on sale at Sears, resulting in prices that are $50 to $100 cheaper.

**The Water Factor (WF) is the number of gallons of water needed for each cubic foot of laundry. The lower the number, the more water saved.

An Energy Star qualified clothes washer can save you up to $875 in energy and water costs over the life of the machine. A list of additional Energy Star certified washing machines and the amount of water they use can be found at the Energy Star Web site.

Purchase a water efficient toilet

Choosing to install a water efficient toilet is one of the most effective ways you can conserve water in your home.  The average 4-person household can save at least 11,000 gallons of water every year by replacing an older toilet with a newer 1.6 gallon per flush (gpf) toilet.

Toilets with a 1.6 gallon tank have an undeserved reputation for poor performance.  Although early models of “low-flow” toilets had performance problems, today it is easy to find reasonably priced, well-performing 1.6 gpf toilets. The Kohler Wellworth and American Standard Cadet are highly rated, reasonably priced ($99), and are available at Home Depot.

A comprehensive list of water efficient toilets with good performance ratings is available on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Web site.