For life to sustain on Earth, water is one of the essential elements. For obvious reasons, life can’t survive if we are to run out of water. Tragically, with increasing population, rapid onset of pollution as well as climate change, we are gradually running out of sufficient water resources. According to some facts, 40% of the world’s population will not have access to clean and freshwater by 2035. Considering the fact that our existence, our development, and even our daily routine heavily depends on a good supply of freshwater, imagining life riddled with water scarcity is an extremely scary prospect.
Under such a situation of emerging dire water crisis, we need to play our part as individuals and make sure that we conserve water and minimize its wastage. There are various things that we can do to ensure that we are not wasting water. A few simple ways through which water can be conserved are;
1. Close Water Taps:
Often while washing dishes or clothes, shaving or brushing teeth, we leave the tap open. This wastes a lot of water. Closing the taps when the water is not being used will help save a lot of water.
2. Check Your Water Hoses and Taps for Leaks:
When leaks go unnoticed, a lot of water is wasted. Looking out for and fixing leaks can help save a lot of water.
3. Take Short Showers:
Spending extra time under the shower may seem like a tempting thing to do after a hectic day at work but this wastes a lot of water. Taking short showers can save a lot of water.
4. Take Baths Instead of Showers:
You can save a lot of shower by filling up a bathtub and bathing in it instead of standing under a shower where a lot of water goes down the drain.
5. Finish Your Water Bottles:
People often leave unfinished water bottles. The water stays there and no one else also drinks that water. Ensure finishing the water bottle, never throw away the water down the drain; this can be used to water a plant or two.
6. Check the Garden Sprinklers:
Sprinklers are an essential part of gardening since they help people water their plants but a lot of times, these sprinklers are left turned on for a very long time. This wastes a lot of water. Use a bucket to water small pots.
7. Use Automatic Dishwashers:
Automatic dishwashers use up a lot of water every time that they are turned on for. Instead of using it for a few dishes, only use it for a full load of dishes to conserve water.
8. Don’t Use Toilets as Waste Baskets:
Flushing away small wrappers, tissues, and cigarette ash is a common practice but this wastes water. Avoiding such practices and only using the toilet for reasonable purposes can help conserve a lot of water.
9. Check Toilets for Leaks:
Leaking toilets can waste up to 100 gallons of water. Ensuring that there are no leaks and fixing them if there are can prevent wastage of water.
10. Carefully Fill the Swimming Pools:
Keep the water level low instead of overfilling the swimming pool to conserve water.
11. Rinse Vegetables and Fruit in Bowl:
Instead of rinsing your vegetables and fruit under running tap water, fill up a bowl with water, and rinse your produce in a bowl. This keeps excessive water from going to waste.
12. Be Mindful with the Kind of Plants you Grow:
Certain trees like eucalyptus suck up a lot of water and lower the water table. Other kinds of plants require too much water to stay alive. Plant such species which are drought-resistant, do not require too much water, neither do they lower the water table.
13. Use Brooms for Cleaning:
Instead of washing your porches, driveway, and verandas for dirt with water too often, use brooms to remove the dirt and soil. Only use water once in 15 days to conserve water.
14. Keep Children Away from Water Pipes and Hoses:
Children do not understand the importance of water consumption and often waste a lot of water while playing with water pipes and hoses. Be mindful of what the children are up to.
15. Use Pail of Water to Clean Your Car:
A pail of soapy water can be used to clean the car instead of running water all over the vehicle. The hose can be used in the end to rinse off the soap.
16. Water-saving Shower Heads and Low-flow Faucets:
This is a cheap way to conserve water at home since it limits the excessive and useless flow of water during showers and faucets.
17. Insulate Water Pipes:
In a lot of households, it takes time for hot water to come out of the faucets and the showerheads so people tend to leave the faucets and showerheads running until hot water starts coming through. Insulating water pipes will warm the water faster; therefore, there would not be any need to keep the water running and wasting it.
18. Wash Your Pets Outdoor:
Instead of washing the pets inside, take them outside in the lawn to an area that needs to be watered. This way, you can use the same water for the lawn as well as your pet.
19. Defrost Food in Refrigerator or Microwave:
Instead of thawing food under running water or in pans of water, defrost them in refrigerators or microwaves that come with a defrost function to save water.
20. Use Ice Cubes for Plants:
Dropped ice cubes can be put on soil to water and cool the plants. This way, water is not wasted, and we can make effective use of the ice cubes. Make sure the plant is not sensitive to cold water.
21. Collect Running Water:
If you are waiting for hot water by turning on the tap and keeping the water running, collect that water to be used for other purposes, i.e., washing dishes, vegetables, or watering the plants.
22. Cover Swimming Pools:
Covering the swimming pools will reduce the rate of evaporation.
23. Deep-Soak Your Lawns:
Deep soaking your lawns ensures that water goes down to roots and is efficiently absorbed. This way, you won’t have to water your lawn very frequently.
24. Rinse Your Razor in the Sink:
Filling up the sink to a few inches and rinse your razor in it instead of under running water and help conserve water.
25. Use Rainwater
If you get enough rain, you can conserve this water in a separate tank to water your lawns or wash your car.
It is our duty to be more responsible towards the resources that nature has provided us. If we conserve water today, the next generation will have to worry a little less about it.
