By MATT MAURY

Each week the newspapers and magazines have articles about the water shortages in other parts of the U.S. Meanwhile, homeowners in America continue to waste an estimated five billion gallons each day while using their households' plumbing.

Luckily for the Pacific Northwest, there was a reasonable accumulation of snow last winter, so we are not in the "high impact" areas of drought this summer. Yet, local homeowners still need to be aware of the ways in which they can conserve water.

LEAKY FAUCETS: One drippy faucet can waste over 70 gallons of water per week. People should be aware that a plumber can check and replace washers in all faucets in a home for about the same cost as fixing the leaky one, when done on the same service call.

WATER-SAVING TOILETS: Nearly 40 percent of the water used in homes is estimated to go down the toilet. Most older homes have five or seven gallon fixtures, while homes built after 1980 have 3.5 gallon ones, and those after 1993 have 1.6 gallon toilets. When remodeling, homeowners should consider a low-flow toilet to conserve water and save money. For instance, the Seattle Water Department estimates that, at today's water/sewer rates, a family of three will be able to save $65 a year by converting from a five gallon to a 1.6 gallon fixture. Put another way, the Department suggests that a toilet that is flushed more than 40 times a day should be considered for change, based on the economics alone.

There is one problem area that should be considered prior to making any changes. Seattle has long sewer connection lines. While a low-flow flush (1.6 gallons of water under high air pressure) may clear the toilet bowl, it may not clear the main sewer line from the house, thereby producing backups. A good plumber can advise on ways to check current systems before making any decisions on conversion.

LOW-FLOW SHOWER HEADS: For many, a long, hot shower is a time of happiness ... which probably explains why it is the biggest hot water user in a home. About 20 percent of an average household's water supply runs down the shower drain. Because it is both relatively easy and inexpensive to change a shower head, many conservation efforts have been focused on switching to low-flow shower heads. Prior to 1980, the water flow in showers ranged between 5-8 gallons per minute.

Over the past 15 years, the changes in head design have reduced flow to under 2.5 gallons per minute. The key to how the shower "feels" at these low-flow rates is the water pressure in the home.

Therefore, anyone who is considering changing shower heads should test a variety of makes before deciding. Depending on the flow rates of both the existing and new shower heads, savings on water and energy costs can range between $20-$40 per year.

SINK FAUCET AERATORS: The water flow into sinks can be cut by over 50 percent through the use of good aerators. Most new faucets have an effective design. In older homes, existing piping may have sediment that will inhibit the efficient use of aerators. However, whenever repiping is done, it is suggested that updated faucets be installed to save on water usage.

APPLIANCES: The home appliance using the most hot water is the washer. New models have been designed with adjustable water levels, thereby allowing every load of wash, no matter how large or small, to be run without wasting water.

The new dishwashers are designed with a variety of washing cycles to encourage water and energy conservation. Whether old or new, it is suggested that they be run when fully loaded to maximize the amount of washing per gallon of water used.

LAWN & GARDEN WATERING: Water consumption in the Puget Sound area doubles during the summer, primarily to keep the lawns green. Conservation can be accomplished in three areas: the amount of grass; the type of grass; and the water system. As it takes more water to maintain grass than shrubs, tastefully minimizing the amount of grass in a home's landscaping is the first step. Then, with the help of any local nursery, select a type of grass that will respond well, in the site's soil conditions, to a limited amount of water. Finally, the most efficient watering will be done by a preprogrammed automatic sprinkler system, whose heads are cleaned and maintained regularly. This allows short watering cycles to be done during the night, when the water will soak into the lawn and garden, rather than evaporating into the air under the warm daytime sun. While the cost of an automatic system is significant, the savings can also be great during a dry summer period.