Smart ways to boost water efficiency of your family home.
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What many of us fail to realize is just how lucky we are every time we turn the tap and fresh water starts running. Unlike solar energy and a lot of other things we tend to take for granted, water is a finite resource, which means that if we don’t start taking the necessary steps to prevent water waste now, we might be looking at waterless future.
That’s precisely why every household should really take a look at their water-related habits and start implementing changes that will preserve this valuable resource. Furthermore, we should start teaching our kids early on to preserve water as much as possible because they’re the ones we’re leaving this planet to. So, here’s how you can make sure you’re not wasting too much water and set the right example for your kids.
Turn the tap off
Might sound silly, but just ask yourself this: is your water running while you’re brushing your teeth, for example? Or washing your dishes? Most likely, the answer is yes. What we fail to realize is just how much water we waste by keeping the tap running. For example, bathroom faucets run approximately 2 gallons of water per minute and if we take into account that we should brush our teeth for 3 minutes, that’s about 6 gallons of water wasted every time one person in your household brushes their teeth. It might not sound too bad but multiply that by two (morning and evening brush) and then multiply it by the number of people in your household and you’ll see that it’s actually a lot. Therefore, make sure you turn the tap off every time you don’t actually need running water.
Inspect pipes and fix leaks
The next thing you need to take care of are leaky pipes, faucets or showerhead, or basically any leaks you have going on in your household. Not only can leaky pipes cause a lot of structural problems and damages to your house, and not to mention the health hazards regarding mould growth, but they can also waste a lot of water. The same goes for leaky faucets and showerheads; while they can’t really cause damage, they also contribute to water waste. So, if you ever suspect that there’s a leak going on contact seasoned professionals, such as this Sydney-based plumber, to inspect the situation and fix the issue if there really is something wrong.
Learn to repurpose
Reusing and repurposing water is another habit you should really try to integrate into your daily routine. For example, while you wait for the hot water to come in, you can catch the cold water and deposit it in your garden. You can do the same with potable water you’re left with after washing your fruit and veggies. Additionally, instead of wasting tap water to irrigate your garden, make sure you install a rainwater collection system in your yard and use that water for irrigation.
Install new fixtures and faucets
A standard toilet wastes almost as much as 54% more water than the low-flush model. Additionally, dual flush toilets allow you to control the amount of water you wish to use for every flush, as we all know not all of them require the same amount. So, to make sure your household is water-efficient, install new toilets with either a low-flush or dual flush system. Next, replace your old faucets and showerheads with the ones that come with an aerator. These waste significantly less water as they project lesser amounts of water combined with pressurised air, so you won’t be compromising your comfort (when showering or washing the dishes) but you’ll be spending far less water.
Be smart when washing dishes
Next, when washing your dishes, you should draw inspiration from the times past and do it as they used to before the dishwashers were invented. First, fill either your sink or a large bowl with hot soapy water and wash all of your dishes in that bowl. Yes, the water will get dirty after a while but thanks to the dishwashing soap, your dishes will be clean. After you’re done soaping your dishes, rinse them off and leave them to dry. This way, you’re bound to waste far less water than you would otherwise. Additionally, if you want to make it a fun family project, ask your kids to dry off the dishes with a dishcloth.
Get a smaller dishwaser
While it is true that dishwashers tend to waste a lot of water, they are pretty useful. Now, if you don’t want to give this commodity up, but you still want to save water, simply get a smaller dishwasher. Now, if you soak the dishes before you load them – this will allow you to run a quick program on your dishwasher, and only start the dishwasher once it has reached its full capacity, you’ll really save up on water.
As you can see, implementing water preserving habits in your daily lifestyle is not difficult at all. You just need to set some goals and see what the best ways to reach them are.
Author BIO
If one thing is true about Lillian Connors, her mind is utterly curious. That’s why she can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of green living/home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out LinkedIn.