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CONSERVE H2O:
20 Ways You Can Conserve Water in Your Home and Business
Save Water

Humans can live for 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water and we can live without power indefinitely.

We all know many ways to conserve electricity, but water is a much more important commodity.

 

Less than 1% of the Earth's water is available for us, the rest is salt water or trapped in glaciers. Our bodies are made up of 60% water on average. We need water to stay healthy and to grow food. Water is life.

1. Check faucets and pipes for leaks

A dripping faucet can waste 50 gallons of water a day or more.

2. Fix leaky toilets

Toilet leaks can waste over 100 gallons per day. You can quickly determine if you have a leak in a toilet. Simply put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Do not flush. If the coloring appears in the toilet bowl, that indicates you have a leak.

3. Flush less often

Every flush uses five to seven gallons of water. If you use your toilet as a trash can to dispose of tissues or cigarettes, please stop.

4. Take shorter showers

Showers use 5 to 10 gallons of water per minute. Every minute you save showering helps the planet.

5. Use Less Water in Toilets

Reduce the volume of water in your toilet tank. Put an inch or two of rocks or sand in the bottom of a plastic water bottle (or two), to weight it down. Place it in the toilet tank. This can save 5 or more gallons of water per day per toilet.

Water Sprinkler

6. Take baths instead of showers

The average bath uses 30 gallons of water. It is simple to use less water in the tub. Unless you keep your shower to 10 minutes or less, the bath uses less water. The average 10 minutes shower uses 25 gallons in 10 minutes, and 20 gallons using a low flow shower head.

7. Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors

These are simple to install yourself, and will reduce the water flow from 5 or 10 gallons a minute, down to 3 gallons a minute.

8. Turn off water while brushing teeth, washing hands or shaving

While you are soaping up your hands for the required 20 seconds, or brushing your teeth, turn off the water. While shaving, simply fill the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor instead of running the faucet.

9. Use the dishwasher or washing machine only when full

The average dishwasher uses 25 gallons of water per load. The average washing machine uses 30 to 35 gallons per cycle. You'll wash less often, and save water, if you only when you have a full load.

10. Don't leave the faucet running  while hand-washing dishes

If you have two sinks, simply wash your dishes in one sink, then place them unrinsed into a rack in the other sink. When you are ready to rinse, use the water sprayer to rinse all at once.

11. Use less water while preparing food

When washing fruits or vegetables don't keep the water flowing. Instead, rinse them in a bowl of water.

12. Stop waiting for hot water

If you use hot water 10 times a day, 31 gallons of water is wasted running the faucets to get the hot water. That is 11,461 gallons of water. wasted per year. Install a point-of-use tankless heater under your sinks.

13. Stop waiting for cold water

Simply, keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator. so you always have cool water to drink. This stops the wasteful practice of running the tap for cool water to drink.

 

14. Check for outdoor leaks

Check outside of your building or house for water leaks. These are often be more wasteful than indoor leaks. If your water bill is unusually high, that can indicate a leak.

15. Don't over-water the lawn

Instead of leaving your sprinklers on a timer, water the lawn only when needed. If it rains, don't water your lawn. Lawns require less water during cool weather. Here's a simple trick: If your grass springs back up when you step on it, it does not need watering. Always water the grass deep enough that the water reaches the roots. Watering too little causes the water to quickly evaporate, wasting water.

16. Water the grass, not the sidewalk

Check your sprinklers to be sure they are set to spray only on the lawn or garden, and not on pavement or other areas that don't need water.

17. Mulch your trees and plants

A layer of mulch reduces the evaporation of moisture so you can water less.

18. Landscape with drought-resistant plants and trees

This is an easy, low maintenance way to save water.

19. Don't wash your sidewalks and patios

Save many gallons of water. Instead of spraying with water, use a broom to clean your sidewalks, driveways and patios.

20. Use less water while washing the car

Newer professional car wash only 9 to 15 gallons of fresh water per car wash. That is 65% less water than washing your car at home. If you do wash your car at home, be sure to turn off the water while you soap your car.

Dish Washer
Girl Drinking Water
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