Water is an important element of life to live and is one of the basic needs for humans. Though 71% of earth consists of water, only 2.1% of fresh water is available to drink. With the growing population the demand for water is increasing and it is not feasible to just depend on the available fresh water resource to cater the demands. Hence, conserving water has become essential for a better life in future.
Here are 12 simple ways to save water that might help you to start with conserving water from your home.
1. Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors
The flow of faucets in our kitchen and bathroom doesn’t require the normal flow it gives and hence installing a flow restrictor can save almost 80% of water. A flow restrictor or aerator is inexpensive and the best option to conserve water at home.
2. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving
When we brush teeth or shave, we tend to keep the tap open for our comfort but because of this a lot of water is wasted. It is always best to keep a glass filled with water to use while brushing or shaving. This will prevent unnecessary water wastage and will also help you brush and shave properly without any hassle.
3. Check faucets and pipes for leaks
A broken faucet or loose faucet can cause leakage leading to water wastage. A small drip from a faucet throughout the day can waste a lot of water, hence it is important to check leakages every now and then. Some leakages take time to be noticed, try to keep the sink and tub dry for an hour and check if you see wetness.
4. Put a plastic bottle in your toilet tank
We don’t require much water to flush out toilet but the toilet tank provided to us comes with a much larger water storage capacity which is not needed. Hence, keep a plastic bottle filled with some pebbles inside the toilet tank to save water without affecting the efficiency of its function.
5. Use your automatic washing machine and dishwasher for full loads only
Using washing machine or dishwasher frequently to wash clothes/utensils can lead to water wastage. Try to gather clothes till the washing machine is fully loaded and then use it. Try the same method for washing utensils in dishwasher and avoid water wastage.
6. Water plants during the cool times of day
Watering plants when it is sunny outside will evaporate the water from plants soon, so, try to water plants either early morning or after five in the evening.
7. Reduce food wastage
It takes lot of water in preparing food, from washing veggies, boiling veggies, steaming to washing utensils. Wasting food will also lead to wastage of water.
8. Turn off the tap while washing hands
Turn off the tap when you start scrubbing your hands with soap. Do the same when you wash your
face.
9. Avoid using RO purifiers
RO water purifiers waste 3 litres of water to get 1 litre of drinkable water because 75% of water comes out as waste. If the TDS level of your tap water is less then 500mg/L then use a UV or UV + UF water purifier at home.
10. Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator
If you want to cook frozen foods or vegetables, then instead of soaking them in water or placing it under running water tap, you can use your refrigerator’s defrost option. You only need to plan it little earlier as defrosting with the fridge will take some time.
It is also helpful to install a water meter to help measure the amount of water you use.
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