Government » City Departments » Public Works » Public Works Water » Where Your Water Goes

Tips for the Kitchen

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Font Size: + -

Kitchen

   
blueberries washing cup dishwasher peppers

Activity

Number of Times*

Circumstances

Water Used*

Total Use (gallons)*

Cooking

Washing produce

One full kitchen basin

1 – 2 gallons

1 – 2

Running water, three minutes

2.2 gallons per minute

6.6

Dishwasher

Once – full load

Water-conserving model

4.5 – 7 gallons

4.5 – 7

Standard cycle

10 – 14 gallons

10 – 14

Dishwashing by hand

Once

Full basin/wash and rinse

2 – 4 gallons

2 – 4

Running water, five minutes

2.2 gallons per minute

11

* Per day

 

Tips for In the Kitchen and Laundry

  • When washing dishes by hand, never run water continuously.  Fill a basin or use a stopper in the sink for rinse water.
  • Employing these tactics while doing dishes by hand will save 35% of the water used, which equates to also saving 3 gallons of water per minute.
  • Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded.  Utilize the shortest cycle possible and minimize the use of detergent.
  • While doing dishes weekly is necessary, the detergent can get very costly if used in excess.  Save money on water and detergent by making sure that your dishwasher/clothes washers are at capacity before running a cycle.  This could save you 20-30 gallons of water, per load of laundry, ultimately saving you around $530 a year.