Water Saving Tips: Indoors and Outdoors

While we take water for granted, in many partsload-to-water adjustment, and some have a
of the world clean, running water is non existentsuds-saver option that drains wash water into
or in extremely limited and difficult supply yetyour laundry tub to be reused for another load.10.
many of us, with a virtually unlimited supply,Instead of using water with a kitchen sink disposal
waste it - knowingly or unknowingly.Droughts areunit, start a compost pile in the yard with
cause for concern in some parts because of thevegetable and fruit waste.Outdoors:1. Check for
low level of water supply. Water and waterleaking taps and pipes. If you have a water
conservation is absolutely necessary to ourmeter, do a test to satisfy yourself you don't
survival, and with growing populations it's straininghave leaks. Read your meter then leave for a
our infrastructure and water resources to thetwo-hour period when no water is being used. If
limits. Costs for providing water to our homes andthe reading is exactly the same you can be
industry will escalate but so will the need to lookassured you're OK. If not you have a leak
for new resources. We can minimize those costssomewhere on your property that needs to be
to ourselves (and ultimately to our environment)fixed.2. Find leaks and fix. Check first for dripping
by carrying out a few simple water savingfaucets and replace washers where necessary.
methods in our homes. Here are a few tips:Even if taps are turned off hard, they can still drip
Indoors:1. Take shorter showers AND get a lowand this is a sure sign washers are going bad. It
flow showerhead. They are inexpensive to buysounds amazing but a drip rate of one drop per
but get one that uses less than 2.5 gallons persecond wastes 1,000 liters per month (about
minute. You won't notice the difference in your3,000 US gallons per year). Toilets can also leak.
showing enjoyment, but you will if you have lowIt's easy to check this by putting a few drops of
water pressure - you'll in fact get a betterfood coloring in the tank. The color will appears in
shower with a low flow showerhead. Somethe bowl after about half an hour if you have a
models have a great idea! They allow you toleak. So replace worn parts - they're cheap and
control the flow while you suds up, then increasethe repairs are easily done.3. Mulch your garden.
the water again for rinsing.2. Turn the water offMulch is a layer of material spread on top of the
while brushing your teeth or shaving. You'll besoil to conserve moisture, discourage the growth
surprised just how much water can be wastedof weeds and even out soil temperature - it can
this way. Teach your children the same goodkeep up to 70% more water in the soil. Beware
practices.3. Avoid flushing toilets unnecessarily.of using green lawn clippings - they can pack
Don't put anything except toilet waste into thedown quite hard and become a barrier stopping
toilet. Dead spiders, hair balls, cosmetic pads andwater getting to the plants. Better to put them
other trash belong in the garbage can, not theinto the compost pile and let them break down.4.
toilet. Unfortunately toilets are responsible for aWater less often but more deeply, and aerate
huge part of household water usage (30-40%).the lawn with a fork for more efficient lawn care.
Which leads to the next tip ...4. Replace olderUse drought tolerant grass.5. Add wetting agents
toilets. The new water efficient dual flushto your garden, lawns and tub plants to keep
systems available now save a huge amount ofwater (and nutrients) in the soil. Kitty litter can
water compared to toilets 10 years old or older:also be used to hold water in the soil but it does
The current standard full flush for solid waste istend to stick together in lumps, so mix it in with
1.6 gallons per flush - the half flush for liquid wastethe soil.6. Seek information on plants that are not
is .8 gallons per flush ... compare this to 3.5 to 7water hungry. Also group together plants that
gallons per flush!5. Attach aerators on all thehave the same water requirements.7. Try to
faucets in your home. They allow air to be mixedwater as late or as early as possible to reduce
in with the water so less water comes throughevaporation from your garden, and using a trigger
the taps.6. To adjust water temperature, turnnozzle on the hose will save water.8. Raise the
down one tap instead of turning up the otherlawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn
because it uses less water and achieves thecut higher encourages grass roots to grow
same result.7. Collect the water that comes fromdeeper, shades the root system and holds soil
hot taps While waiting for the hot water to reachmoisture.
you. It normally goes down the drain, but can beIf we practice our own water conservation
used for watering plants and cleaning. In areas ofmethods at home we encourage our children to
extreme water shortage pop a bucket in theaccept that our natural resources are in limited
shower to collect shower water and this can alsosupply - something they'll have to come to terms
be used on the garden.8. Keep a jug/bottle ofwith in the future. And something our present
water in the fridge for drinking. This will savegeneration too often chooses to ignore.Author:
waiting for water to run cool and, if you're onCarmel Muggeridge. Besides being the owner of a
municipal water, it will reduce the chlorine contentwebsite with great credit card offers, Carmel is a
as it sits in the fridge.9. Run washer or dishwasherpassionate supporter of good health, our
when you have full loads OR adjust the waterenvironment and all things natural.All Rights
level for smaller loads. Front-load washers useReserved. Article may be reprinted as long as the
about a third less water than top-loading (and lesscontent remains intact and unchanged and links
washing powder). Most also have an automaticremain active.