Water is the most precious resource on earth. You can go weeks without food, but you’ll only live a few days without water.
As our population continues to grow and many parts of the world are facing drought, water conservation is becoming increasingly important.
Use these top four tips to help save water – and money – each month.
1. Take Short Showers Instead of Baths
Showers use less water than baths, so the simple act of taking a shower instead of a bath can help you save water.
But taking shorter showers can push the water savings even further. Experts recommend cutting down your shower time to just five minutes. A four-minute shower uses about 20-40 gallons of water.
Another option is to turn off the shower when lathering up soap or shampoo, which allows you to use water only when necessary.
2. Invest in a Dual Flush Toilet
Modern toilets are a little more efficient, but older toilets can use as much as 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush.Now, plumbing standards require that toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
But energy efficient toilets can use as little as 1.28 gallons per flush.
Dual flush toilets have one flush function for liquids and another for solids. This system ensures that you conserve water, but never have to sacrifice comfort or convenience.
3. Install Water-Saving Shower Heads and Faucet Aerators
We use our showers and faucets every day – several times a day. Installing water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators minimizes water use, which can contribute to significant savings in the long run.
A low-flow shower head can cut your water use almost in half when showering. Low-flow aerators also minimize water use.
4. Only Use Your Dishwasher or Washing Machine for Full Loads
You don’t have to wash dishes or clothes by hand to save water. In fact, washing dishes by hand actually uses more water than your dishwasher.
But you can conserve your water usage by only running your washing machine or your dishwasher when you have full loads. Rather than running your dishwasher after breakfast and again after dinner, wait until the end of the evening when you have a dishwasher full of dishes.
The same can be said for washing your clothes. How many times do you throw a load of a handful of clothes into the washing machine? Wait until you have a full load, so you clean more laundry at once and use less water at the same time.
No matter where you are in the world, it’s important to take steps to conserve water to not only save money, but reduce your impact on the environment as well.
