As a nation, we waste gallons upon gallons of water every single minute.
Being eco-friendly and trying to save on your household water usage can be easier than you think.
From fixing leaks to upgrading appliances, this article offers easy solutions to help you become a more conscious consumer.
Here are seven great tips to help you on your way.
Conserve Water Around the Home
Washing Up
When washing dishes by hand, turn off the tap. It’s more efficient using a sink containing soapy water for washing, and another with clear water for rinsing.
The same goes for greasy pots and pans. Soak them for a few hours rather than running hot water always and scrubbing away. This method saves you some elbow grease as well.
Also, when washing up:
- Always run full loads when doing laundry since consolidating washes is more efficient.
- Skip the extra rinse. While many washing machines have that option, you can skip it to save water. Instead, use the right amount of soap in the first place.
- If you can upgrade to an efficient washing machine, that can save you more than 7,000 gallons of water per household per year.
- Reuse towels by hanging them to dry after drying off. You don’t have to launder towels after every shower
Gardening
To conserve water when gardening, choose drought-resistant plants and shrubs. They can thrive even when there’s a hosepipe ban.
If you really must water your lawn, then set your sprinkler to a lower output so that only the lawn gets water instead of the entire street. Additionally, always water lawns in the morning or later in the evening when it’s much cooler. This way, you reduce the chances of evaporation as the ground is much cooler.
Indeed, if you plan, you can plant things in your backyard during the fall when it’s much cooler and rainfall more likely. Finally, try using a watering can instead of a hosepipe to give plants a drink as it’s a much ideal way to water plants without waste.
Household Waste
Use the garbage disposal sparingly to save water. Instead, conserve water around the home, use your household waste to make compost rather than use the garbage disposal to eliminate unwanted leftovers.
Food Prep
Food prep tends to use lots of water. If you use water inside the house to wash veggies or fruits, keep it to water houseplants or those in the backyard. Plus, carrying the water around from your kitchen to the backyard burns off some calories.
Household Appliances
When staying around the house during the day, for example, during the pandemic, choose one glass and a cup instead of using different utensils. By doing this, you save up on washing up.
Don’t start the dishwasher on a cycle unless it’s full as it’s more economical and will help conserve water. You also should use low-flow fitting on your shower-heads and faucets to reduce the water output.
Showering
Conserve water around the home. Take shorter showers and avoid baths because filling the tub uses a lot of valuable water. To save even more water and time (especially in the morning), you could wash your face and brush your teeth while having the shower
Still in the bathroom:
- Opt for a high-efficiency toilet. They use 1.2 gallons or less of water for a single flush, unlike older toilets that guzzle 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush.
- Install faucet aerators because they reduce water usage
- Also, check all faucets and other water pipes for leaks.
Leaks
Water leaks eat into your budget. Placing food coloring in your toilet tank or cistern will alert you to any leaks that you may have. If the dye leaks into the toilet, you will know that you have a leak and fix it.
Having this type of leak corrected can save around one thousand gallons a month. Always address leaks around the house as soon as you notice them. It is usually something minor like a loose nut or washer so that you can carry out these jobs reasonably quickly.
If you suspect that you have a leak in your plumbing system, it’s important to identify it as soon as possible to avoid wasting water and increasing your water bill. One way to do this is to use your water meter to test for leaks. Start by turning off all the water sources in your home, then check your water meter reading. Wait for a few hours, making sure not to use any water during this time, and check the meter reading again. If the reading has changed, even though you haven’t used any water, it’s likely that you have a leak that needs to be fixed.
Conclusion
Conserve water around the home. Be mindful when you need to use water and give some thought to the waste. Ask yourself whether you need to run the hot tap while brushing your teeth or doing the dishes. The planet would be a better place if we all used a little common sense and stopped wasting so much water.
Water should not be taken for granted. It is precious and should, therefore, be treated with the respect it deserves.
