The 30-Day Test
We measured water usage with a flow meter installed at the kitchen faucet. Household of 3 adults. Baseline: 2.2 GPM aerator. Switched to 1.5 GPM aerator ($8, hardware store). Daily usage tracked via utility bills and direct flow meter readings.
Results: Daily kitchen faucet usage dropped from 18.3 gallons to 11.7 gallons — a 36% reduction. Annual savings: approximately 2,400 gallons per household. At $0.01/gallon (average US water cost), that's $24/year. At $0.03/gallon (higher cost areas), that's $72/year. The aerator pays for itself in under 3 months.
Installation
Unscrew the existing aerator (usually hand-tight, sometimes needs pliers). Check the thread size — most are 15/16" male or 13/16" female. Screw on the new aerator hand-tight. Run water to check for leaks. That's it — 30 seconds, no plumber.