Hello everyone and happy new
month to you. Yes, we’ve all heard about the ALS ice bucket challenge. Even
though it seemed to be for a good cause (raising funds for research on Lou
Gehrig’s disease), a lot of criticism has followed this. Some people have
argued that the challenge is simply a waste of water resources.
Well, in my own opinion, I would
say we are probably wasting more water at home than just the bucket of ice. Come
to think of it; a regular shower uses about 10 litres of water per minute and
an average person spends 10 to 15 minutes in the shower which implies using 100
to 150 litres of water just for showering alone. Consider other uses such as
washing, flushing etc. The emphasis of this post is not on ALS ice bucket
challenge but to bring to our attention the high rate of water consumption in
our homes.
Here are 10 simple ways to conserve
water in your home.
Fix
all leakages: Ensure all pipe leakages and faulty taps are fixed. You might
think you are losing just a few drops of water but these little drops of water
will amount to several litres of water wasted at the end of the day. Like the
saying goes; little drops of water makes a mighty ocean.
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| Water saving shower head |
Spend
less time in the shower: The lesser the time you spend in the shower, the lower
your rate of water consumption. Don't turn your shower into a meditation spot. Also, using pre-measured amount of water in a bucket
for bathing isn’t a bad idea.
Replace showerheads with low-flow models: Low-flow shower heads use lesser volumes
of water (about 6 lit/min).
Don’t
leave the tap running: Ensure the tap isn't running while shaving or brushing your teeth. Ladies, instead of
washing off your makeup, consider using a facial cleansing wipe which also
moisturizes your face.
Collect
rainwater: During rainy season, you can collect rain water in storage drums
which can be used for bathing, washing plates/clothes, cleaning the house or
watering your lawn.
 | |
| Dual flush system |
Get
a dual-flush toilet: The dual-flush toilet uses less water for peeing (half flush) and more
water for pooping (full flush).
Use water efficient washing machine: Front loaders use less water than top
loaders.
Use
your washing machine with full loads.
Use microwave to thaw foods. In
the kitchen, instead of using running water to thaw frozen foods, use a
microwave or rather still, bring out frozen foods from the refrigerator early
enough to allow it to defrost on its own.
Don’t
run water while washing dishes. You can collect water in a washing bowl, add
your washing liquid and wash from the bowl. Also, choose washing liquids that
rinses off easily.
