Most of us have grown up with the concept of endless, clean water that flows at our command. Gone is the appreciation our ancestors had for the toil required to pump water into a bucket, carry that bucket back to our home and hope that there will still be more the next day.
But with the blessing of running water, comes the obligation to use it wisely. Whether it’s during toothbrushing, hand-washing dishes or soaping in the shower, we’re all guilty of letting water go down the drain for the sake of convenience. But what we see as a convenience can quickly become a crisis when this behavior is amplified across millions of individuals. Clean water is a limited resource that we all require to live and so should garner appropriate respect.
Here are some tips we can all use to make every drop count!
- Check for leaks. Even a small leak can translate to a large amount of water loss and hurt your water bill as well.
- Buy a better toilet. Consider investing in a low-flush, energy-saving toilet that uses 1-2 gallons instead of the usual 3-5.
- Be mindful when running water. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, washing vegetables, etc.
- Maximize the efficiency of your washer and dishwasher by doing large loads and use the correct amount of water for the size of the load.
- Try to make use of xeriscape principles for landscaping your yard. And when you do water, avoid windy days and soak your lawn well to make best use of the water.
- Don’t let your obligation for water conservation go down the drain. If it helps, picture poor, thirsty people each taking turns filling up a cup of water to drink while you have the water running.