Installing a high-efficiency, or low-flow, showerhead and faucet aerator is an easy, inexpensive way to extend the life of your septic system and reduce your home’s water consumption. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, showering represents approximately 17 percent of residential indoor water use in the United States, which adds up to more than 1.2 trillion gallons of water consumed each year. Those showers can quickly add up on your water bill and quickly wear down your septic system.
Installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators can reduce home water consumption by as much as 50 percent, subsequently easing a huge operating burden from your septic system. Faucet aerators replace a faucet head screen and lower water flow by adding air to the spray, while low-flow showerheads draw in air or force air into the water stream. This air-water combination under high pressure makes it seem like there is more water is coming out of the showerhead than there actually is. Aerating showerheads — the most popular low-flow showerheads — mixes air into the water stream leading to an even, full shower spray, while non-aerating low-flow showerheads adds a pulse to the water stream, delivering a strong spray.
The Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires that all faucet fixtures in the United States have a maximum water flow at or below 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). High-efficiency showerheads average 2.0 gpm, while the best available low-flow showerhead averages 1.5 gpm. It’s estimated that low-flow showerheads can save more than 12 gallons of water per shower, a savings of more than 40 percent over standard 2.5 gpm showerheads. What’s more, low-flow showerheads range from $8 to $50, meaning they pay for themselves in a very short period of time.
High-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators save money to lowering wastewater costs, reducing strain on your septic system, and saving water. Based in Warrenton, Virginia, SES has been inspecting, servicing, maintaining, and repairing residential and commercial Northern Virginia septic systems since 1987.