| While we take water for granted, in many | | | | washing powder). Most also have an automatic |
| parts of the world clean, running water is | | | | load-to-water adjustment, and some have a |
| non existent or in extremely limited and | | | | suds-saver option that drains wash water into |
| difficult supply yet many of us, with a | | | | your laundry tub to be reused for another |
| virtually unlimited supply, waste it - | | | | load.10. Instead of using water with a |
| knowingly or unknowingly.Droughts are cause | | | | kitchen sink disposal unit, start a compost |
| for concern in some parts because of the low | | | | pile in the yard with vegetable and fruit |
| level of water supply. Water and water | | | | waste.Outdoors:1. Check for leaking taps and |
| conservation is absolutely necessary to our | | | | pipes. If you have a water meter, do a test |
| survival, and with growing populations it's | | | | to satisfy yourself you don't have leaks. |
| straining our infrastructure and water | | | | Read your meter then leave for a two-hour |
| resources to the limits. Costs for providing | | | | period when no water is being used. If the |
| water to our homes and industry will escalate | | | | reading is exactly the same you can be |
| but so will the need to look for new | | | | assured you're OK. If not you have a leak |
| resources. We can minimize those costs to | | | | somewhere on your property that needs to be |
| ourselves (and ultimately to our environment) | | | | fixed.2. Find leaks and fix. Check first for |
| by carrying out a few simple water saving | | | | dripping faucets and replace washers where |
| methods in our homes. Here are a few tips: | | | | necessary. Even if taps are turned off hard, |
| | | | they can still drip and this is a sure sign |
| Indoors:1. Take shorter showers AND get a | | | | washers are going bad. It sounds amazing but |
| low flow showerhead. They are inexpensive to | | | | a drip rate of one drop per second wastes |
| buy but get one that uses less than 2.5 | | | | 1,000 liters per month (about 3,000 US |
| gallons per minute. You won't notice the | | | | gallons per year). Toilets can also leak. |
| difference in your showing enjoyment, but you | | | | It's easy to check this by putting a few |
| will if you have low water pressure - you'll | | | | drops of food coloring in the tank. The color |
| in fact get a better shower with a low flow | | | | will appears in the bowl after about half an |
| showerhead. Some models have a great idea! | | | | hour if you have a leak. So replace worn |
| They allow you to control the flow while you | | | | parts - they're cheap and the repairs are |
| suds up, then increase the water again for | | | | easily done.3. Mulch your garden. Mulch is a |
| rinsing.2. Turn the water off while brushing | | | | layer of material spread on top of the soil |
| your teeth or shaving. You'll be surprised | | | | to conserve moisture, discourage the growth |
| just how much water can be wasted this way. | | | | of weeds and even out soil temperature - it |
| Teach your children the same good | | | | can keep up to 70% more water in the soil. |
| practices.3. Avoid flushing toilets | | | | Beware of using green lawn clippings - they |
| unnecessarily. Don't put anything except | | | | can pack down quite hard and become a barrier |
| toilet waste into the toilet. Dead spiders, | | | | stopping water getting to the plants. Better |
| hair balls, cosmetic pads and other trash | | | | to put them into the compost pile and let |
| belong in the garbage can, not the toilet. | | | | them break down.4. Water less often but more |
| Unfortunately toilets are responsible for a | | | | deeply, and aerate the lawn with a fork for |
| huge part of household water usage (30-40%). | | | | more efficient lawn care. Use drought |
| Which leads to the next tip ...4. Replace | | | | tolerant grass.5. Add wetting agents to your |
| older toilets. The new water efficient dual | | | | garden, lawns and tub plants to keep water |
| flush systems available now save a huge | | | | (and nutrients) in the soil. Kitty litter |
| amount of water compared to toilets 10 years | | | | can also be used to hold water in the soil |
| old or older: The current standard full flush | | | | but it does tend to stick together in lumps, |
| for solid waste is 1.6 gallons per flush - | | | | so mix it in with the soil.6. Seek |
| the half flush for liquid waste is .8 gallons | | | | information on plants that are not water |
| per flush ... compare this to 3.5 to 7 | | | | hungry. Also group together plants that have |
| | | | the same water requirements.7. Try to water |
| gallons per flush!5. Attach aerators on all | | | | as late or as early as possible to reduce |
| the faucets in your home. They allow air to | | | | evaporation from your garden, and using a |
| be mixed in with the water so less water | | | | trigger nozzle on the hose will save water.8. |
| comes through the taps.6. To adjust water | | | | Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three |
| temperature, turn down one tap instead of | | | | inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass |
| turning up the other because it uses less | | | | roots to grow deeper, shades the root system |
| water and achieves the same result.7. Collect | | | | and holds soil moisture. |
| the water that comes from hot taps While | | | | |
| waiting for the hot water to reach you. It | | | | If we practice our own water conservation |
| normally goes down the drain, but can be used | | | | methods at home we encourage our children to |
| for watering plants and cleaning. In areas of | | | | accept that our natural resources are in |
| extreme water shortage pop a bucket in the | | | | limited supply - something they'll have to |
| shower to collect shower water and this can | | | | come to terms with in the future. And |
| also be used on the garden.8. Keep a jug | | | | something our present generation too often |
| bottle of water in the fridge for drinking. | | | | chooses to ignore.Author: Carmel Muggeridge. |
| This will save waiting for water to run cool | | | | Besides being the owner of a website with |
| and, if you're on municipal water, it will | | | | great credit card offers, Carmel is a |
| reduce the chlorine content as it sits in the | | | | passionate supporter of good health, our |
| fridge.9. Run washer or dishwasher when you | | | | environment and all things natural.All Rights |
| have full loads OR adjust the water level for | | | | Reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as |
| smaller loads. Front-load washers use about a | | | | the content remains intact and unchanged and |
| third less water than top-loading (and less | | | | links remain active. |