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Water consumption is a growing issue. This is likely compounded by the fact that we seem to view water as a limitless resource.

The overuse of water causes pollution of local water systems and the deterioration of our local environment. It overloads local sewage and septic systems, is costly for maintenance and leads to the need for new treatment plants.

In addition, your water bill is likely much higher than it needs to be. Here are some simple and cheap tips on how to save water:

1. Add a brick to your toilet.

This is an easy way to reduce the amount of water consumed by the largest water user in your house. If there are no bricks handy, fill a milk jug or a similar container with water to use instead.

If you have an older toilet (prior to 2002), you may want to consider replacing it (just think of the savings on your next bill!).

When you’re looking for a new toilet, go for the most efficient one possible. New advancements have made these low flow toilets extremely effective.

My favorite kind – the two button toilet, giving you the option to select the amount of water needed for each flush.

2. Skip the second rinse cycle on your washing machine.

This will reduce the amount of water used by the second largest consumer of water in your home. In addition it will reduce your water costs (and heating bill if you are rinsing in warm water).

3. Only wash full loads.

It’s a simple way to save water. A full load of laundry uses has a smaller water-to-clothing-ratio than a small load done on a small setting.

This goes for your dishwasher too. It uses the same amount of water for whether run empty or full, so make the most of it.

4. Choose a shower over a bath.

Showers use significantly less water than filling a bathtub (assuming you’re not a marathon showerer!). To reduce your water usage even more, see the next tip.

5. Invest in a low flow showerhead.

Not only have these really come down in price, but they have greatly improved over previous models. You will not notice a loss in water pressure, it may even be better – and you’ll be saving water!

This is a great way to start investing in a greener lifestyle, since the savings are two-fold. You will reduce the amount of water you use (and pay for) in the shower by over 30%, and you won’t be paying to heat that extra water either. All for the same, or better, shower experience you currently have!

6. Check for water leaks.

There are lots of ways to do this. To check your whole house at once, read the water meter before you go out, during a time when you know no water will be used. If the number is higher when you get back, then you’ve got a leak.

Toilets are often the culprit. Check your toilets by adding some food coloring to the tank. If you see the color in the bowl, there’s a leak (it may take up to half an hour). This is usually an easy fix and will save water that’s needlessly being wasted.

7. Install some aerators.

These mix air with the water that comes out of your tap, thereby slowing the flow, and use of tap water in order to reduce water use. The great part about this is that you probably won’t notice much change in how the water comes out of the tap.

8. Turn it off while you brush, shave and lather.

It’s a simple little thing, but it can make a big difference. Don’t leave your tap running while you brush your teeth. Put a cup by the sink to use for rinsing and turn on the tap only as needed.

The same goes for shaving. Whether in the shower or at the sink, turn off the water while you shave. You can fill the sink with a little water to rinse out your razor, or again, use a cup.

And, of course, you don’t need water running while you shampoo, condition and lather up. You can take that low flow showerhead a step further!

9. Put a small garbage bin in each bathroom.

Even little things add up. Providing a place to throw things away prevents people from washing stuff down the sink. And it also reduces the likelihood of your pipes becoming clogged.

10. Reduce the use of your kitchen faucet.

When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink rather than leaving the water running. If you have a two-basin sink fill each side – one for washing and one for rinsing. With a single sink, put your cleaned dishes on a dish rack, and then put the whole thing in the sink at the end and spray rinse it. This will save a considerable amount of excess water from going down the drain.

Similarly, clean your fruit and vegetables in a sink of water all at once, rather than rinsing each one under the tap as it’s used. (You’re also more likely to choose these as a healthy snack if you can just pick it up and eat it right away.)

If you have a garburator (or garbage disposal unit) in your sink, try to limit its use. These are extremely inefficient, having to use large amounts of water to eat up and get rid of the waste. Opt for composting instead to get rid of your food waste.

Making a few, or all, of these tips on how to save water a part of your daily life will go a long way towards reducing your impact on the environment. And if each of us starts making that small effort to reduce water use, we will quickly start to have a massive impact, which will benefit us all!

To your more water-friendly life!
- Christine

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 8:12 pm and is filed under Ways to Make a Difference. You can follow responses to this entry through the Comments RSS Feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your site.