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SAVING WATER
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source: www.americanwater.com/49ways.htm
www.awwa.org/advocacy/learn/
conserve/RESOURCES/
CONSERVATIONINFO.CFM
www.sydneywater.com.au/
SavingWater/InYourHome/
QuickTips
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Here are a few other tips to help conserve our precious resource…- defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave – or just wait - instead of running water over it;
- keep a container of water in the fridge so that you won't need to run the water down the sink until it's cool enough to drink;
- washing fruit and veggies in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage;
- when washing dishes by hand, use two basins - one for washing and one for rinsing rather than let the water run;
- avoid water pollution: try to use phosphate-free, eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products - there's a great range to choose from these days and they're much better for our environment;
- repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets: studies have shown homes can waste more than 10% due leaking, which costs both you and the environment. Dripping faucets can waste more than 7,500 litres of water each year. One leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 litres a month. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 750 litres each day;
- another large water waster can be leaks in your irrigation system. Fix irrigation system leaks quickly and check for water in the gutters or mud puddles. Inspect your sprinklers and drip sprayers regularly for leaks during the daytime since the optimal time to water is in the night-time hours when you cannot observe leaks. If you have an older irrigation system, over 50% and even more than 75% of the water can be lost to leaks;
- to maximise showering efficiency make sure that you have installed a low-flow showerhead in all of your bathrooms. A 5-minute shower with a standard showerhead uses 100 litres of water. A 5-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead uses only 35 litres of water;
- take shorter showers. A typical shower lasts about 8 minutes and uses about 65 litres. An efficient shower lasts 3 or 4 minutes and uses 25-30 litres. Shower timers are available if you need a reminder. Turn off the water while soaping up or shampooing. Keep a bucket in the shower to collect excess water. You can use this water to irrigate your plants.
- the most effective and inexpensive way to reduce your faucet use is by installing a low-flow faucet aerator on all your household faucets:
- another way to conserve is by not running the faucet unnecessarily. Be sure to turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and doing the dishes. You can also reuse faucet water by keeping a plastic basin in your sink for use on your landscape;
- when adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning water flow up, try turning it down. If the water is too hot or cold, turn the offender down rather than increasing water flow to balance the temperatures;
- to rinse your razor, run a little water into a plugged sink. Rinsing your razor under a running tap wastes lots of water;
- consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park on the grass to do so. Use a hose nozzle that shuts off between rinses rather than letting the water run;
- encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults;
- patronise businesses which practice and promote water conservation;
- encourage your friends and neighbours to be part of a water conscious community. Promote water conservation in community newsletters, on bulletin boards and by example.
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