Tips to Conserve Water Everyday
Today there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to their home. In one year, the average American residence uses over 100,000 gallons of water without even realizing it. For example, if a faucet dripped at one drip per second, it can leak 3,000 gallons in a year.
Throughout the world, many more people are experiencing droughts, dirty water, and are wasting gallons of it every minute. How can you help? Here are 10 ways to conserve water at home. Follow these tips to do your part to help reduce your overall water consumption.
Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth. According to the EPA, by turning off your water in the morning and before bedtime while brushing your teeth, you can save up to eight gallons of water per day. This equates to more than 200 gallons a month.
Take shorter showers. Period. A four-minute shower can use anywhere between 20 and 40 gallons of water. By shortening your time in the shower, you are saving water, in addition to money. It’s really that simple.
Use your dishwasher and washing machines ONLY when you have full loads. When it comes to dishwashers and washing machines, they should be fully loaded for ideal water conservation. Many companies who make dishwashing soap recommend you don’t pre-rinse dishes. When you use your washing machine, beware of the permanent-press cycle as this cycle uses an extra five gallons for the additional rinse. You should try to always use the regular or normal cycle.
Use a compost bin rather than feeding the garbage disposal. A garbage disposal uses as much as four gallons of water per minute. It also adds solids to the septic tank which can cause buildup and damage. Instead, you can place your leftover food scraps into a compost bin. A compost bin is better for your soil since it is rich in nutrients and can be put right onto your grass, garden, and flower beds. Having a compost bin is also better for the environment. Food scraps and waste currently make up 20 to 30 percent of what we throw away. By making a compost, you are keeping these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Turn off the faucet while you wash your hands. Do you really need the water running while you scrub and rinse your hands? After you wet your hands turn the faucet off and save a few gallons of water. Turn it back on once you are ready to rinse.
By taking one of these five steps to help reduce water, you’re not only helping the environment, you’re also saving your pocketbook.