10 Easy Ways to Save Water in your Home

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. 

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.

I hope these tips have enlightened you on how to save water. If you have additional tips, please share it in the comment section below.

Source: Eartheasy, Wikihow, Sun News