Shutting off the water when scrubbing your teeth or the dishes can help conserve water.
While water is a renewable resource, it is not as renewable
as many people believe. As the world's population continues to grow, the
amount of fresh water needed to sustain life also rises. According to
the University of Michigan, less than 3 percent of the earth's total
water supply is freshwater, and 70 percent of the freshwater is frozen
in the icecaps of Antarctica and Greenland. Conserving water around your
home will lower your water bill while reducing the strain your
household puts on municipal freshwater supplies.
Turn off Your Taps
Allowing the water to run while using your sink can
result in excessive waste of water. Turn off the water while brushing
your teeth or scrubbing dishes; only turn it on while rinsing your
toothbrush or a dish. When washing fruits or vegetables, fill a pan or
bowl with water for rinsing instead of washing them under running water.
Running water results in waste because the faucet will produce more
water than you realistically need to complete a task --- according to
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a conventional faucet
releases 5 gallons of water every two minutes (see References 4).
Wash Full Loads
Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when
they are completely full. Doing so will result in fewer loads and
maximum water conservation. According to the EPA, simply following this
practice with your dishwasher can save up to 600 gallons of water per
month (see References 4).
Water Your Lawn Wisely
If you water your lawn every day, switch to
watering it every other day --- or every several days --- to save water.
Check the placement of your sprinklers to make sure they are positioned
in a way that no water is ending up on your house, windows or sidewalk.
If you notice excessive water run-off on the sidewalk and in the
gutter, decrease your watering time to allow the grass to absorb the
water instead of wasting it. Water early in the morning or in the
evening to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation during the
heat of the day.
Reuse Water
If you have any kind of leftover clean water, use
it to water your garden or lawn. For example, instead of draining your
fish tank into your sink, take the water and apply it to plants in your
garden. If you wash your fruits and vegetables in a bowl, recycle the
water on your house plants.
Deal With Leaks
If you notice any leaks in your faucets, toilets,
shower heads or sprinkler system, fix them as soon as possible. The EPA
estimates that the average American home can waste more than 10,000
gallons of water annually thanks to household leaks (see References 5).
If you cannot deal with a small leak immediately, place a pan or cup
under the leak to collect the water. Use the collected water on your
house plants.
Upgrade Your Appliances
Older dishwashers and washing machines generally
have longer rinse cycles than newer models. Switch out the appliances in
your home for newer, more environmentally friendly models to conserve
water. Look for the EPA's WaterSense label for the most water-efficient
models on the market.
Choose Plants Carefully
When choosing plants and flowers for your garden,
choose ones that require less water in order to thrive. Ground cover
plants that are drought tolerant will keep your garden looking beautiful
without the diligent watering required by turf grass. Black-eyed
Susans, daylilies, catmint and allium are several varieties of flowers
that will thrive without being watered every day, but you should
research plants native to your region to find the best options for your
garden.
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