We are just now realizing that our attitude about water is not exactly sustainable.
As Climate Change affects our weather patterns,
we are witness to floods that wreak havoc,
droughts that devastate whole swaths of populated areas and farmers,
plastic in our oceans,
pharmaceuticals and phosphates in our rivers and lakes,
not to mention an aging inefficient infrastructure and lack of sanitation that causes disease, to get the attention of the world’s population: Water is Important!!!
We Care- Why You need to read this list
Waste and water pollution- things to think about
Let’s start with the basics:
- Brushing your teeth: running the tap while brushing your teeth can waste 4 gallons of water or over 15 liters.
- Toilets: Older toilets can use 3 gallons or 11.3562 liters of clean water with every flush, while new toilets use as little as 1 gallon or 3.78541 liters.
- To Brick or not to Brick: Displacing water in your toilet tank is easy but the down side of using an actual brick is that the clay can disintegrate and create sediment and clog your tank, so it’s suggested that you fill up a jug of some kind with sand or rocks that won’t break apart. This has been known to save about ½ gallon or a liter of water per flush, which is more than 2.5 gallons per day.
- Faucets: A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons (75 litres)of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds
- Water Pipes: If you insulate your water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe insulation, you will get hot water faster while avoiding the extra water flow while the water heats up.
- Shower Faster! - A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water, you’re doing the math, aren’t you.
- Washing Dishes: If you can get a dishwasher, they actually use less water than washing your dishes by hand. Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy. This is not always possible (like in my apartment), but it does give me pause!
- Cooking Tip: use the water from; boiled eggs, soaked dried mushrooms or steamed veggies for broth in soup- seriously easy to save water and nutritious too!
- Rinsing Veggies and Fruits: save that water to water your plants – it takes an extra step, but it makes so much sense!
- Washing Clothes + Dishes: Fill it up- Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month (3785.41 liters)
- Rain Rain Rain: collect and harvest rain in a rain barrel; then use that water later on as needed
- Pets: left over water, Fish- When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants Dogs and Cats- don’t throw the old water down the drain when you are giving your pet fresh water, use the left over water to your trees or shrubs