Water is the most important element, after air, for life preservation. Freshwater is a basic need for all men, irrespective of who and where. About 71 percent of the surface of the earth is covered by water with an adult human body containing up to 60 percent water. Of the total water mass, only 2.5 percent is freshwater, according to National Geographic. Just about 0.007 percent of this freshwater is accessible by man. Given there is almost nothing we can do without water, it becomes imperative to conserve water as much as possible.
1.9 million gallons of water are said to be consumed by an average American family and 1,800 gallons of water are needed to make a pair of blue jeans. This shows that the consumption rate is massive. And there are many water problems people are constantly searching on the Internet to find solutions to. But the residents of Missoula in the USA have another problem entirely. According to reports residents of Missoula are often accused of inappropriate water usage as recounted by several new residents who just moved into the city. If proper measures are not embraced, we might soon be facing a water shortage.
As environmental issues take the center stage of international concerns, it becomes inevitable for each person to try everything possible to reduce his or her adverse effects. Several things can be done to save water. Five of these are discussed below:
1. Installation of rain barrels
Rain barrels are containers that help collect and store rainwater. 1,300 gallons of water can be saved per home annually if 55-gallon rain barrels are installed. Rainwater stored in these barrels takes care of water needs in the garden. This type of water conservation does not only conserve water, it equally takes care of environmental issues like stormwater runoff and erosion.
2. Embrace low flow
One of the most water-consuming points in the house is the bathroom. Since a large amount of water is used here, it is a key place to save water in the house. Almost 17% of indoor total water usage in an average home is used for shower purposes – like daily 40 gallons for a family of four. 30% of an average home’s indoor water usage goes to the toilet. Older fashions of water closet use as much as 6 gallons of water per flush. What then is to be done?
Replace hold water closets or put a plastic bottle in your toilet tank. Latest EPA WaterSense-certified toilets use as low as 1.28 to 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared to about 6 gallons used by older versions. These new toilets also offer better performance or at least the same performance. If you want to retain the older versions, put pebbles or sand in a bottle and fill with water. Place this in your toilet tank to take up space. This could save up to 5 gallons of water per day. If there is more space, you can use two of such bottles as long as it does not interfere with the operation mechanism of the water closet.
You can also replace your showerheads. According to this blog post. https://www.showeringcenter.com/how-to-increase-water-pressure-in-shower/, regular showerheads uses two and a half gallons of water in 60 seconds, but there are now more water-efficient showerheads that make a lot of difference. One-fifth or more of this can be saved if WaterSense-certified showerheads are used and you won’t even notice the difference.
In addition to using the latest showerheads, embrace shorter showers. A maximum of 5 minutes shower is good enough. This implies that you may use about 10 gallons per shower. Less water is used by a partially filled tub than even the shortest showers. It is also important to turn off the water while shaving. Do not keep water running while shaving. Just fill the sink with little warm water to clean your razor.
3. Water your lawns manually and efficiently
Water your lawn only when necessary. Any grass that springs back up after lifting your foot does not need watering. When you do water the lawn, make sure it is a deep soaking. Ensure you water the lawn long enough for water to reach the roots of the grass as light evaporation will only be water wastage. The water will evaporate from the surface.
4. Check for leaks
One of the key water-wasting means is leakage. Leaks from pipes are a significant source of water waste. The tiniest leakage wastes more gallons of water than one could ever imagine. Pay attention to your home’s plumbing system. If you notice any leakage situation, attend to it immediately. We have a higher tendency of ignoring or not immediately attending to outside leaks.
5. High-efficiency clothes washer
Each year, about 300 loads of laundry are washed by an average American family. This takes up above 20% of indoor water usage. You can buy more efficient water machines – front-loading machines are usually more efficient than top-loading machines.
With all the things happening all around the globe due to climate change, we should do all things possible no matter how small in order to reverse its effects. Saving a few drops of water may not seem a lot for most people, but it will make a lot of difference as a collective effort.