Every day the average American can splash, pour and flush between 40 and 130 gallons of water down the drain, while even more is used on farms and in factories.In South Fork Water Board’s water service area, the average person uses 80 to 100 gallons of water each day.A family of four typically consumes over 320 gallons.

South Fork serves close to 63,000 people in the Cities of Oregon City and West Linn and the old Clairemont Water District (the Beavercreek , Redland area).During the winter months we consume an average of 6 million gallons of water day, and during the summer months water our use more than doubles to an average of 13to 14million gallons a day.On a hot summer day we use up to 18 - 19 million gallons.

We use a lot of water to cook, take showers, clean and drink.The chart below shows how a typical household uses water indoors.

There are a number of ways you can learn how to save water indoors whether it is through fixing leaky faucets or leaky toilets to installing new low flow devices, which can reduce your indoor water usage by up to 50%.To learning how to use your water meter to check for leaks.  Find out more ways you can save water indoors by checking out the indoor conservation tips.

Indoor Conservation Tips

Here are 10 ways you can save water indoors: 

• Check faucets and pipes for leaks.Even the smallest drip from a worn washer can waste 20 or more gallons a day.Larger leaks can waste hundreds.

• Check your toilet for leaks.Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank.If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.
  
  
• Take shorter showers.You can save from 12 to 25 gallons of water by taking a five-minute shower rather than a ten-minute shower.
  
  
• Take baths.A bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers.
  
  
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
  
  
• Don’t use your toilet as a garbage can. Dead bugs and used facial tissue should go in a trash can.
  
  
• Rinse razors with short blast or by swishing it in a partially filled sink.
  
  
• Install a water saving showerhead or flow restrictors.
  
  
• Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher.
  
  
• Keep a bottle of cold water in the refrigerator for drinking instead of running the faucet. Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful.