Let’s start with a couple of statistics:
- An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a developing country slum uses in a whole day. (2006 United Nations Human Development Report.)
- The average person in the developing world uses 2.64 gallons of water a day. The average person in the United Kingdom uses 35.66 gallons of water per day. The average person in the United States uses between 100 and 175 gallons every day at home. (https://blueplanetnetwork.org)
- One toilet flush uses as much water as the average person in a developing country uses for a whole day’s drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning! (waterforlife.org)
Why does the west use so much water in our everyday life? The most simple explanation is that we’re wasteful. We can’t imagine our water ever running out so why conserve it? One reason is because so many people in the world live without it. So what can you do in your everyday life to save water? Take a look below.
- Turn your faucet off when brushing your teeth/shaving.
- Install faucet aerators on your bathroom and kitchen sinks.
- Install a low flow shower head.
- Putting something like a brick, or a toilet tummy in your toilet tank can save you up to 3/4 of a gallon with each flush
- Make sure you dont have any leaky pipes in your house. (Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills. (EPA))
- When you’re washing a lot of dishes fill a bowl with soapy water and then turn off the water and wash all of your dishes. When its time to rinse you can either fill a basin with water to rinse them (best practice), or rinse under the running water (you don’t need to have the water running at full output!)
- Instead of throwing that old glass of water down the drain water a plant.
- Only use dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load to do.
- I know we all love standing in a nice warm shower, but you can clean yourself and get out in about 3 minutes to save water.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off a patio/driveway/sidewalk.
- Like cold water? Instead of letting the water run until its cold keep a pitcher in the fridge (a Brita pitcher is a great option if you want to filter your water also).
- Place a bucket in your shower to capture the water that runs while you’re waiting for it to get hot. Use the water to water plants.
- If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.
- Garbage disposals waste water because you have to have the water running while you use it. Instead, compost your food scraps (most municipalities have a compost bin that goes out with your garbage. If you don’t have this option start a compost bin in your backyard and make your own.)
- Water your plants and lawn during the morning or evening, but only when it’s needed.
- Put a layer of mulch around plants to help slow the evaporation of moisture.
- Install a rain catch system to catch runoff.
- When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
- Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
- Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.
- If you flush your toilet every time you put a tissue in it STOP. Throw it in the trash instead.
- Use a hose nozzle instead of letting your hose just flow all over the place.
- When you have ice left in your cup don’t throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant.
There are a lot of simple ways for you to save water everyday. If you have some others not mentioned here please let the blog know.
https://www.naturesvoice-ourchoice.org/
https://www.wateruseitwisely.com
Saving water at home