How to Save Water In the Home
Even though 70% of the earth's surface is covered by water, less than 1% is suitable for consumption. With the earth's population continuing to rise, it is critical that we get smarter about how we use our supply of potable water. The good news is that we all can make a difference just by making a few small changes to our daily habits.
Everyday Environmentalism In the Bathroom
When it comes to saving water in the bathroom, a few small steps can make
A big difference!
Consider these tips
For reducing your water consumption every day.
1. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, and rinse out the sink when you're finished.
2. Capture shower/bath water while waiting for water to change temperatures: This excess water can be used for watering plants.
3. Don't wait for the water to get hot before filling the tub for a bath. Put in the plug and adjust the water temperature as the tub fills.
4. Do not use the toilet as a garbage can: Only flush the toilet when disposing of sanitary waste.
5. Turn off the water while shaving: Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. Everyday Environmentalism In the Kitchen When it comes to saving water in the kitchen, a few small steps can make a big difference.
Consider these tips
For reducing your water consumption every day.
1. Capture running water while waiting for the temperature to change: this excess water can be used to water plants.
2. When washing dishes by hand, use as little water as possible. Use only the required amount of dish soap and put the dishes in a rack to rinse them all together and reduce rinse water. Be sure to use short bursts instead of letting the water run when rinsing. When you do use the dishwasher, use appropriate water and energy efficient settings.
3. Keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator. With cold drinking water on hand, you'll waste less than you would while waiting for the faucet to change temperature for each glass of water.
4. Do not defrost frozen food with running water. Use the microwave or defrost in the refrigerator.
5. When cooking, use only the amount of water required; this reduces the amount of water wasted when straining.
6. In the laundry room, be sure to match the water level with your load size. If your washing machine doesn't allow manual water level adjustment, wait until you have a full load before you run your machine.
10 Water-Saving Tips
Water conservation starts at home, where our daily use of faucets, showerheads, dishwashers and toilets all add up to some unsightly numbers. Fortunately, you can dramatically reduce your water usage through helpful tips you can use throughout your home.
1. Replace older, less efficient toilets with 1.28-gallon High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) to save up to 16,500 gallons of water per year.
2. Swap out your 2.75 gpm showerhead with a 1.75 water-conserving showerhead and you can save more than 7,700 gallons of water per year. * Based on an average of seven-minute for a family of four.
3. Fix leaky faucets and install faucets with water-saving aerators to effortlessly save hundreds of gallons of water per year.
4. Use the appropriate water level and load size on the w
ashing machine when doing laundry. Consider purchasing a front-load washing machine.
5. Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks. 6. Water your garden during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning, and avoid watering on windy days.
7. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving to keep excess water from going down the drain.
8. Landscape with native or low-water plants to significantly reduce water usage outside the home.
9. Use leftover water for houseplants, instead of pouring out a half-empty glass of drinking water.
10. Make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded to maximize the dishes cleaned in a cycle.