Water Conservation
Conserving water means to reduce the usage of it. Water conservation is one of the ways to ensure that there is a sustainable water supply to satisfy the needs of the country¡¯s growing population and economy. Although there are areas in which water is abundant, water conservation has already become a practice which is essential in all regions.
Besides helping to save money on your utility bill, water conservation helps to prevent the pollution of nearby lakes, rivers and more. Conservation of water reduces soil saturation and any pollution caused by leaks. This can extend the life of your septic system.
The overloading of public sewer systems can result in the flow of untreated sewage to lakes and rivers. Hence, the smaller the amount of water flowing through these sewer systems, the lower the chances of pollution taking place.
Water Conservation at home
Check for leaks in toilets
Even a small leak will result in a large amount of water wasted. A way to check for leaks is to add some food coloring into your toilet tank. If the color appears in the toilet bowl without any flushing, you have a leak.
Do not discard cigarette butts or other small bits of trash into the toilet bowl
Quite an amount of water is lost each time a piece of trash or cigarette butt is being flushed down.
Take short showers
Another way to cut down on the usage of water is to turn off the shower while soaping yourself and turning it on again to rinse. A short duration of 4 minutes spent on showering uses about 20 to 40 gallons of water.
Turn off the tap after wetting your toothbrush
Do not let the water run while you are brushing your teeth. Instead, just wet your toothbrush and fill a glass of water for mouth rinsing.
While washing dishes by hand, the water should not be left running while rinsing
Fill a container with water and rinse the dishes in the water.
Water Conservation for Plants
Water only when your lawn needs to be watered
Stepping on your lawn is a way to test if it needs to be watered. If your grass springs back up when you move it, this means that it does not need to be watered. However, if it stays flat, it means it needs to be watered.
The early parts of the day are the best time for watering
The early morning is usually better as compared to dusk as it helps to prevent fungus from growing. Early watering and late watering can also reduce the amount of water lost through evaporation. Early watering can also help to reduce the amount of slugs and other garden pests.
Try not to water your plants when it is windy
The wind can blow your sprinklers off target and can also speed up the rate of evaporation which results in the increase of water lost.
Conservation of water when washing
While washing your car, do not leave your hose running
Fill a pail with water and add soap inside. Use this for cleaning and only use the hose for rinsing the car. This can save up to 150 gallons of water.
Instead of using a hose to wash the driveway or sidewalks, use a broom instead.
In conclusion, everyone should play a part when it comes to conserving water. It comes very naturally when we are all aware of its importance. Hence, water conservation campaigns are often carried out to boost our awareness on the issue. All of us should be educated on water conservation methods. Even little water conserving actions can make a significant difference in our daily lives and contribute to saving the world¡¯s limited supply of water.
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