Water saving and conservation is a very critical topic at the moment, with droughts becoming more regular in subtropical areas where water is evaporating a lot more and water supplies are minimal.
In this article, we will be telling you tips and tricks on water saving and conservation, and also the effect it has on the world, to help educate those on why water saving is important not just for you but the world.
Although 71% of the world is water according to the USGS website, there are water shortages in many parts of the world and we need to take action before it spreads.
Why is water-saving important
Copy: Water saving is important for many reasons and it is crucial that we understand the impacts of saving water. With conservation of water you save energy and money, reducing your carbon footprint and your cost! Energy is needed to filter, heat and pump water to your home and when you use less of it, you’re reducing the need for the energy. In addition, our ecosystems benefit greatly from saving water, as their habitats are then kept well supplied with water for the animals.
What is the difference between water saving and water conservation
Copy: Water conservation refers to decreasing the total amount of water use, whereas saving means conserving water through the use of water-saving technology. In recent years, there has been an ever increasing need to conserve water due to the global climate and drought conditions around the world.
The Top 12 water-saving/conservation tips and ideas
1. Take Shorter showers
62% of the British population bathe or shower at least once a day, and in the shower, we spend on average between 7-8 minutes in the shower, which equivalates to 20 gallons of water. So if you shower for 8 minutes and you cut down to 7 minutes you can save 2.5 gallons of water every time you shower, equaling 75 gallons of water a month.
2. Install a water meter
Installing a water meter can help you save water as you can measure how much you are using, so you are aware of water usage and your cost. Seeing how much you are spending on the water will make you aware and potentially encourage you to review your water usage.
3. Fix a dripping tap
A dripping or unnecessary running taps can waste upwards of 1 litre an hour in a UK home. It should be considered a priority to fix and if left alone for too long it can compromise a whole plumbing system, leading to a heavy increase in lost and damaged water. This can be fixed by a plumber or a water engineer.
4. Water your garden with a watering can
Using a watering can rather than a garden hose to keep your plants healthy and alive, helps reduce water loss to evaporation. Using a garden hose means there is excess water coming out at a higher velocity and general rate. Watering cans help water saving as you don’t lose as much water and you get the same benefits as a garden hose.
5. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
After you’ve wet your brush you should always turn the tap off during the brushing period because the water is being wasted down the drain. Letting it run with no use will waste your money as well as water. Turning your tap off for the two-three minutes can save two or three gallons of water each day if you brush your teeth twice a day.
6. Invest in water-efficient goods
Using water-efficient goods means that we can minimise the excess water we are using that’s being extracted from rivers and aquifers, especially when demands for water are rising due to the fast-growing global population. These goods can be tools such as:
Water-efficient showerhead
These showerheads only provide you with the water you need and no more, they produce up to 50% less water and you feel no difference in the shower. You are saving water whilst still enjoying a relaxing shower.
Shower timer
This is a smart product that allows you to cut down the time spent in the shower, to save gallons of water a month as well as money off your water bill. The timer can be electronic or a simple timer that alerts you when it is time to get out of the shower so you can get into a great routine of saving water by the minute.
Water flow control products
Accurately measure, monitor and adjust flow rates to optimise safety efforts for your water and enable water saving. You can adjust the flow of your water so you allow what goes in and out of your home at the flick of a switch.
7. Install a water butt
A water butt can be a container of any size that is linked to a drainpipe. When it rains the water will fill the containers from the drainpipe. The container doesn’t make the water safe to drink or shower in, so it is recommended you use the water for watering plants, cleaning cars and topping up ponds.
This saves water coming out of reservoirs or rivers across the country as the water used in the butts is rainwater and eco-friendly. These containers can range from £50 to £215 based on the size, look and overall quality.
8. Keep track of your dishwasher and washing machine settings
Keeping track of the settings on your dishwasher and washing machine is very key, not a lot of people adjust their washing machine settings to the most efficient and let it go to the highest settings. This means 10 litres for every 1kg of clothes being washed. So, adjusting to the right settings and the number of clothes you wash can save litres.
A dishwasher uses an average of 3 gallons of water per usage, so if you adjust your settings correctly then you will be able to cut down on some of that use. Using a dishwasher is a lot better than hand washing, as it saves a lot more water being wasted down the drain.
9. Install a dual flush for your toilet
The purpose of this mechanism is to reduce the volume of water used to flush different types of waste. This means you have two options for flushing waste down the toilet so you don’t use excessive amounts of water to quite literally throw down the toilet! A single flush tool uses six litres of water per flush, whereas a dual flush would use 4-6 litres so there can be a two-litre cut in the amount of water you waste.
10. Use a bowl in the sink when washing fruit, vegetables or dishes
It is much more water-efficient to use a bowl rather than wash your food under a running tap. Washing food under a tap can waste litres upon litres, depending on the water pressure. A bowl keeps the water contained and at a sensible quantity so you don’t waste litres.
11. Applications that display water usage
EcoWater offers a range of water softeners that go by the name the eVOLUTION water softeners and within these water softeners, there is a wifi module that puts water consumption into numbers and charts so you can keep track of your consumption. This is a smart investment in two ways.
- You can look at how much you are spending and realise how much excess water you are using and cut that out of your usage each month, therefore, saving money.
- As well as saving money and water, a water softener provides you with better and healthier tasting water with many health benefits. It will benefit your skin and hair, as the soft water goes easier on the skin and the pH level of the water means that it doesn’t deteriorate your skin layers.
12. Install a water Filter
Although a water filter doesn’t directly save water it does promote water conservation within your system. A water filter keeps water so it can be recycled throughout your household so you don’t waste water, money, and energy.
There are many different types on the market such as:
Carbon Water Filters, Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House, and Remineralising Water Filters.
These all provide benefits of great tasting drinking water which eliminates the need to buy bottled water, saving you money and reducing your household plastic waste.
In Conclusion
We know that saving water would help wildlife all over the world, but what would it do for humans if we all made an effort to save water?
It helps us save money on our water and energy bills as well as keeping water for future generations so they don’t go through water shortages. Saving your water can help people get more in places with droughts like Africa and parts of Asia and South America. Saving water is like donating your water globally to people all over the world, who need the water that you use with that extra two minutes in the shower.
Start saving water today with these tips and tricks and help the globe step by step in fighting water shortage.
