How To Be Water Wise
Water is becoming increasingly scarce. We’re running out of clean drinking water and fresh water sources. So we need to conserve our precious resources.
People often don’t realize just how much water they waste because it goes straight to the drain, so they don’t see the amount.
With small changes in the use of water per day, we can make a huge impact on the environment.
When not in use, turn off the faucet.
Keeping the water running while brushing our teeth, shaving, or soaping hands wastes around four to five gallons of water.
Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth, shaving, and washing hands instead of running the water until we rinse out the products.
The problem is that we don’t always know how much water we’re wasting. Even though most people are aware of the fact that they’re wasting too much water, many still turn the faucet on and let the water run without even thinking twice.
Place plastic bottles or a float booster in your toilet tank.
Doing this will lessen the water coming out of the tank per flush.
Fill some plastic bottles with an inch or two of heavy material like sand or pebble to ensure that it sinks. Then, fill the rest of the bottle with water and close the lid. Simply put, this DIY tank bank. If you want, you can also buy an inexpensive tank bank or float boosters which are actual products for toilet water saving.
Soak your dishes in warm water first.
This is because the heat makes getting off any scraps faster. Hot water also helps break down grease, making it easier to rinse off. If you are washing dishes by hand, use warm water; otherwise, use room temperature water.
If you’re scraping less while the faucet is on, you can use less water.
Reduce the length of your showers.
If you’re going to save water, you need to reduce the length of your shower. This means taking shorter showers and washing less frequently.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but once a day is ideal. Where we can really save water is in hair washing.
We only need to shampoo two or three times a week. That is enough and ideal for keeping your scalp and hair healthy.
Washing too often or too long will strip away healthy oils and good bacteria in our skin and hair.
Take quick showers rather than baths.
Baths are great, but taking quick showers saves water and energy. So if you’re looking for ways to save water, consider taking quick showers instead of bathing every day.
A full bath consumes approximately 70 gallons of water. Short showers, on the other hand, can save more than half of that. With a low-flow showerhead installed, you can expect to use about two gallons of water per minute, for a total of 20 gallons over the course of a 10-minute shower.
Only run your dishwasher and laundry in a full load.
Running a small load will use about the same amount of electricity and water, so having a full load will make your washing more efficient. Aside from saving water, you can also save money from utility bills by doing this.
Use energy-saving and water efficient appliances and devices.
There are many water-saving dishwashers, washing machines, shower heads, toilets and faucet options these days. They are designed to be more water efficient. They’re a good investment because they will also help you save on water utility bills in the long run.
Choose low-flow and low-water appliance options. They will increase your water efficiency and reduce water wastage.
Repair plumbing leaks
Plumbing leaks cost homeowners thousands of dollars every year. They’re not only unsightly, but they cause damage to floors, walls, ceilings, and appliances. So it makes sense to deal with them as soon as you can.
Inspect your pipes regularly. Look for cracks, holes, bulges, or anything else that may indicate a leak, so you know that you have to act.
Use your sprinklers and garden hose mindfully.
It’s hard to keep track of the amount of water you use through sprinklers and hoses because it goes straight to your garden. That’s why it’s easy to overdo it and waste water in the process. Use your sprinklers and garden hose more mindfully to know when to stop the water. You can also use buckets or watering cans, so you see the amount you’re using.
Use drip irrigation to water your plants.
Drip irrigation systems are great because they’re efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. They help keep your garden healthy and beautiful while saving resources.
Drip irrigation systems are great because they provide consistent watering throughout the day. They don’t waste water either. This helps prevent over-watering, which leads to soil erosion and plant stress.
The best part about this system is that there aren’t many moving parts. You simply connect the hose to the emitters and turn the valve on. Then, you just water where you want. If you don’t have a lot of space, consider installing one in your backyard.
Steam rather than boil vegetables
If you’re looking to save water, steam your vegetables instead of boiling them. Boiling takes longer and uses more energy and water steaming.
Steaming also helps the vegetable retain more nutrients than boiling. If you’re boiling vegetables, you’re literally watering down the nutrients in them.
Reuse water
Instead of washing your fruits and veggies in running water, do it in a bowl of water. You can also collect the water instead of letting it go down the drain. If you do, you will see that that water is generally clear and doesn’t contain any soap, which makes it a waste to just throw out.
In fact, water used to wash and even boil vegetables (no seasoning) will have some nutrients from the vegetables. The same goes for plain water used to boil eggs and water used to rinse rice. Use those to water your plants instead of tap water. Those will have some gentle and organic fertilizing benefits to help with plant growth.
You can also collect and use the water you run when waiting for the shower to get hot. You can use it for cleaning, watering plants, or any outdoor water use.
Final Words
A common misconception about being sustainable is that you need to be buying products to help achieve your sustainability goals. Even though products may help, they’re not everything. What matters most is your commitment to sustainable practices, no matter how mundane.
Reducing carbon emissions, keeping forest habitats intact, using fewer fossil fuels, protecting natural resources, and achieving energy efficiency are all important, but so is water conservation.
Because existing freshwater resources are under threat, clean water is becoming increasingly scarce.
So we should do our part to conserve water, especially at home.
