Potable water is a precious resource that seems to be getting scarcer every day and the price of water is going through the roof. In addition, there are some areas in our world that suffer from acute water shortage. We should make every effort to be as conservative as possible with our water use. Saving water is a personal and moral responsibility that should not be ignored. On average we use approximately 300 gallons of water a day for each adult. This is a lot of water and there are several simple and practical things we can do to save water and money.
Here are some saving water tips on how to save water:
1. The most important thing is to check for leaks in pipes and taps. One leaking tap can waste more than 1500 gallons a month. You can start by installing new water efficient taps or tap aerators. It is a cheap way to cut your water usage without even noticing.
2. Many dishwashers can use up to nine gallons of water per load. You can get reduce this by half if you use at least a three star rating dishwasher. Not to worry, dishes will be still as clean as they used to be. In addition, it will be best if you wait until you have a full load in your dishwasher before starting it. If you have a load adjustment button, you can set it to match with the amount of washing you are planning to do. This will save you water and energy.
3. Do not forget about safety if you have an emergency. Make sure that everyone in the house knows where the main water shut-off valve is located. This will save you many gallons of water if a pipe breaks or burst. Test the valve to ensure that you can turn it on and off because it may be old and rusty.
4. Leave your heating on a low setting while you are not at home in winter or in cold weather to prevent broken water pipes and loss of water. Do not forget about hot water pipes insulation too. Water is wasted when taps are running while waiting for the water to get hot enough. If there is a long pipe run between your hot water tank and the kitchen or bathroom, consider installing a separate water heater to save wasting water.
5. If you have a teenager in the house that enjoys thirty minute showers, consider installing a shower timer spigot that turns off the water after ten minutes or installing a showerhead water saving device. This will help bring real time awareness to their water usage and help in saving water.
