Water is not just an environmental issue (though it definitely is that). It’s also a financial one, as more and more of us are paying water charges.
We’ve included tips that should apply to a range of lifestyles. So, even if you don’t have access to a garden, we’re confident that the remaining tips will apply to you (assuming you brush your teeth and shower, for instance!).
Water is the stuff of life, as we discussed in our blog post about the importance of drinking water. So any steps we can take to mitigate waste is welcome.
Make sure your tap is turned off every time you’re not using it. This might sound obvious, but leaving the tap running while brushing teeth is very common. In fact, one survey found that
40% of Americans leave the faucet running while brushing their teeth. This is a waste of about eight gallons of water (per person!) per day.
It’s no secret that showers use less water than baths. But the difference is starker than you might realize. A study from Stanford found that “a full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons”.
For more information on hygiene, check out our blog on the best way to wash your hands.
On that note, shower water can have more than one use. This water, sometimes referred to as “gray water” (essentially meaning that it’s clean enough for some, but not all, uses). It is possible to configure shower water for re-use in the toilet, for example, or for gardening. Or, for a much lower tech solution, place a small bucket in the shower. This can then be used for gardening or, with a splash of cleaning solution, to wash your car.
Our last piece of shower-related advice: Try not to linger in the shower. According to the EPA,
every minute in the shower used over 2 gallons of water.
Another practical step is to use available resources. And the oldest one of those is probably rain. A water butte can connect to your drainpipe, collecting rainwater, where it can be stored for a dry day.
This one is relatively simple to follow: Don’t press ‘start’ (or ‘go’) on that dishwasher or laundry cycle until it’s a full load. This actually brings several benefits, reducing workload, water use, and energy bills.
Food and water are inextricably linked. And water plays a part in producing most of what you eat. Whether you’re a vegan or a fan of red meat, water is a key component in farming and producing your favourite meals.
A sobering study found that
Americans waste 325 pounds of food per person, per year, on average. Be mindful of food waste: Don’t buy or order more than you need, be aware of use-by dates when shopping, and freeze leftovers.
If you’re concerned about how much water your shower is using, you can buy and install an eco-showerhead. If you drink tea, it might be worth getting a hot water dispenser installed for making individual cups.
Steamed vegetables use up less water than boiling them, maintains more nutrients, and often tastes better. Win win! Also, feel free to use butter while steaming. There is no rule against it!
Keep an eye on your faucets and water appliances. And learn how to turn off the water (with a valve), should you need to. At the very least, you’ll be glad of that knowledge if you have a burst pipe. For more home-based information, we have a more specific guide on saving water for urban or rural homes.
Don’t ignore the sound of dripping: tighten that faucet or find someone who can. After all, a dripping tap can waste over 5,000 litres of water per year!
We talked about water preservation in more specific terms in separate blogs. For instance, we have a
guide on sustainable water practices for expats and we have more information on a range of water-related topics in our comprehensive W
ater Hub.
