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Saving water is really important to our environment and our lives. However, most of us don’t consider it while we shower, wash the dishes, use many appliances that need water and so on.
Water is just something many of us may take for granted in our lives.
However, water is not limitless, especially fresh water which is vital to our survival.
So, learn more about water and how to preserve it in this article.
Why is it Important to Save Water?
Water is a necessary element in our lives. The supply may seem plentiful but it is not. With conserving water we might save more of it and keep our environment healthy.
This planet and all of the life on it relies on water to stay alive and is tied to the water in some way. Water conservation can help keep a healthy balance of life on the planet – plant, animal and human alike.
If we don’t conserve the water properly, we can disturb the biodiversity and that delicate balance on the planet.
Water is also very expensive and not delivered for free. Saving water is not only good for the planet, all of the life on it but it can also help you save a lot of money.
Over consumption of water also leads to over consumption of energy too. It needs to be heated, your water utility uses energy to process water for use and this requires energy as well.
Saving water reduces the demand for water treatments, which also saves energy.
So, there are many reasons to conserve and save water:
Fresh water is necessary for humans to survive. Without it, you would die within days. The same goes for most plants and animals.
Using less water means more money for you. Basic conservation can help you save thousands.
Saving water means that you will save nature, natural ecosystems and many species.
Conserving water conserves more energy. This means that your carbon footprint will be reduced as well.
Water conservation can reduce the occurrence of sinkholes
Simple water saving tactics can help you spend less water, more than half of what you currently use. It doesn’t take plenty of effort but it does make a huge difference on the environment and your wallet.
Top 10 Ways to Save Water at Home
Most of the planet has the privilege of having fresh, clean water. However, that amount of water is not going to stay the same forever and we are slowly losing fresh, healthy water.
This is why every home should learn how to save more water so we can have plenty of it in the future as well.
1. Turn your faucets off
Never let your faucet run while you rinse or wash the dishes, wash your face or hands, brush your teeth, shave and so on. Fix any leaks in your faucets or your toilet.
2. Repurpose water
Capture the water that’s just used for rinsing or wasted in any other way and use it on other things like watering the plants or washing dishes later.
3. Double-dip
If you have a dual sink, you can fill one with warm water with soap and the other one with cold water for rinsing dishes. This way, you save water and make your process easier.
4. Get a smaller, efficient dishwasher
Modern, smaller dishwashers can save a lot of water. Scrape your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher and you’ll save up a lot of water. Run full loads only.
5. Get an efficient laundry washer
Clothes washing uses a lot of water. Get a front loading machine with high efficiency
6. Get a low-flow showerhead
When we shower, we often spend more water than really necessary. To prevent that, you can get a water saving showerhead and waste less water.
7. Shower less or shorter
Making your showers shorter is a good idea if you want to save water but don’t want to invest yet.
8. Cover your pool
A pool cover can save a lot of water, reduce evaporation and save you a lot of money on water.
9. Water plants by hand
Use a water can and you’ll use 33% less water than you used to with a hose.
10. Capture rain
Save and store rainwater which you can later use in many different ways.
Water Use Facts
Think about all of the times you use water in a day. Daily activities can use much more water than you realize, such as:
- Washing dishes
- Showering
- Washing hands
- Flushing the toilet
For example, a family uses 320 gallons of water a day. It can increase to 1,000 during the summer. A dripping faucet can waste more than 1,000 gallons a year. When you have a bath, you spend more than 35 gallons of water. A 20 minute shower uses 100 gallons of water.
More than 30% of all water usage happens outside. A toilet flush spends more than 3 gallons of water.
All of this seems scary, especially considering that only 2% of water on the planet is freshwater and 97% is salt water in oceans and seas. Only 1% of water is available as drinking water.
How to Save Water at Work and School
If you want to go even further and protect your environment even more, you can do so at school or at work. Let’s look at all the ways how:
Try to collect excess water and then reuse it. For instance, use the water from your school fountain to water plants.
If you are not using tap, turn it off as soon as possible. For example, when you wash your hands at school or work, shut it down as soon as you’re done. Make signs to show that other people should do the same.
If there are any leaks at school or at work, report it and make sure it’s fixed. You can check yourself or ask someone to help.
If you are painting in school, wash the paint brushes in a bucket rather than continuously running the sink tap.
Use a refillable water bottle when at work or at school. If you have any leftovers during the day, spill them into the garden or pot of plants.
Spread the word about your water efforts.
Start a campaign to install aerators to the taps. They will help you spend a lot less water at school or work while they will maintain the pressure.
Start a campaign to install rainwater tanks for your school or workplace. These can be used in the toilets or flowers and plants.
Ways to Reuse and Recycle Water
Many people never think about how much water they spend on a regular basis. However, if we just saved a bit more, it would be much better for the environment and your budget.
Here are some things that you can do to recycle and reuse the water in your home and in your garden too.
Use a shower bucket – While this may sound like you should shower with a bucket, it’s not really that. What it really means is that you should have a bucket in your shower that would collect that water that runs while you’re trying to get the perfect water temperature. You can use that to wash dishes, watering the plants and more.
Use rainwater – Avoid the entire water system when it comes to your garden and use rainwater. Use a barrel to collect it and then use it to water your plants or even flush your toilets.
Make a rain garden – Rain gardens make wonderful use of all of that natural water runoff and they can also protect your home from water damage.
Save pasta water – Next time you make pasta, don’t just dump that water in the sink but rather collect it and then use it as toilet water or for gardening.
Save veggies and fruit washing water – Use a bowl to collect all of that water and then use it in the garden or for toilet flushing.
Use a grey water system – Grey water is wastewater that has no sewage. This is the water that goes down the drain when you wash your hands or your laundry. A grey water system would divert that water so it’s not wasted but rather used for good. You can divert that water to go to toilet flush. It might be a bit more complicated, but it’s worth it and it can save a lot of water and money for you.
Collect what overflows from watering plants – When you water plants, there is always extra water running through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. This water shouldn’t go to waste and you can use the runoff to water other plants.
Reuse drinking water – If you have a water glass or bottle that’s half empty but too old or warm to drink, you can use this water to water plants or to flush. You can use unsweetened tea on plants too.
So, there are many different ways to save water – just pick the one that works for you.
Are you a super-saver when it comes to water? Let us know your fave H2O tricks in the comments below!
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