8 Ways to Conserve Water for International World Water Day 2010

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing eco awareness on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

As mentioned in our eco friendly training, each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The theme of World Water Day 2010 is addressing eco awareness of water quality under the theme "Clean Water for a Healthy World." In honor of the day, there are multiple eco actions to take, but as an ongoing measure of a personal sustainability plan, we suggest raising eco awareness of water issues on a daily basis through personal conservation.

How can you conserve water?

Wash Hands Efficiently: Turn off the water while you soap your hands, and rinse briefly.
Brush Teeth Wisely: Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
Use Less Water for Dishes: Scrape your dishes clean to reduce rinsing. Run the dishwasher only when it’s full.
Take Hall Full Baths: Try bathing in a tub that’s only half full to save water and the energy used to heat it.
Shorten Your Showers: Shorter showers save both energy and water—keeping your shower under 5 minutes can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
Stop Leaks: turn off water faucets tightly so they don’t drip and repair leaks.
Wash Clothes Wisely: Make sure your clothes are truly dirty before putting them into the hamper. Wash clothes only when you have a full load, and use cold water whenever possible.
Water Wisely: Water the lawn only every 3 to 5 days in the summer and avoid watering driveways, sidewalks, and gutters.