8 Tips to Conserve Water

Monday, June 1, 2009 by Julie Urlaub
image: water and the environmentIn keeping up with my own personal sustainability plan, I was compelled to repair a water leak.  In my personal consulting I advise clients of the importance of conserving water.  Yesterday, it was my turn to take some of my own advice.  Fix that leak!  While going without water during the repairs, my appreciation for water and its many uses came to the forefront of my thinking. 

Saving water is good for the earth, your family, and your community.

  • When you use water wisely, you help the environment. You save water for fish and animals. You help preserve drinking water supplies. And you ease the burden on waste water treatment plants—the less water you send down the drain, the less work these plants have to do to make water clean again.
  • When you use water wisely, you save energy. You save the energy that your water supplier uses to treat and move water to you, and the energy your family uses to heat your water.
  • When you use water wisely, you save money. Your family pays for the water you use. If you use less water, you’ll have more money left to spend on other things.

Ideally, it would be best if we all embraced the sustainability concept of reducing water.  Here are some ways to do just that.
 
  • 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.
Conserving our natural resources is part of living a sustainable lifestyle. 

Comments for 8 Tips to Conserve Water

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 by BeWaterWise Rep:
Nice post Julie! I agree with you. Conserving natural resources, especially water, is definitely a part of living a sustainable lifestyle. In fact today, when fresh water shortage is a growing concern across the world, the need to spread awareness on water conservation is all the more important. Just like your port, even BeWaterWise.com has a good section on how to conserve water at home - http://tr.im/n908. Check it out. They will be useful too!
Sunday, May 2, 2010 by Zach Smith:
Using one of the most indispensable appliances, the washing machine, consumes a lot of water. So we should plan our laundry use every time. Do not wash pieces of clothing. Collect your dirty laundry and wash in bulk at the end of the week. Use liquid detergent. This will dissolve better in your washer. Powder detergents might leave soap residues that will make you run an extra rinse cycle to get rid of them. If you are going to choose a new washer, pick front loaders. These washers consumes less water because of its gravity-defying tumbling action.

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