The Big Picture
Less than 3 percent of the water on Earth is fresh; much of that is unreachable in glaciers, icecaps, or deep in the earth: Of that less than 1% is considered potable, meaning safe for drinking. Depletion of these dwindling water supplies degrades the natural environment and can necessitate costly and habitat-destroying water projects. Water conservation practices, such as efficient appliances and fixtures, behavioral changes, and changes in irrigation practices, can reduce water consumption by as much as a third.
Fresh water is a finite resource and requires care, from the bathroom to the front lawn sprinkler to washing clothes and dishes.
Problems associated with decreased water supply include:
• Pollution from runoff
• Additional water and wastewater treatment facilities;
• Habitat degradation from surface water withdrawals;
• Destruction of wetlands, which filter pollutants; and
• Increased energy needed to treat wastewater and byproducts from power plants.
• Increased energy needed to transport potable water.
Reality Check
Changing water-use practices requires education, but requires little financial investment. Changes to developments, homes, landscaping and irrigation, and other engineering changes may require a minimal initial investment. They also may require time spent researching appropriate measures.
The Up Side
Water-efficiency measures can reduce water and sewer costs by up to 30 percent. In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds.
Environmental Protection
Conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers. The smaller the amount of water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution. In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by communitywide household water conservation.
The Bottom Line
As water use and allocation becomes a topic of growing concern around the world, communities will be required to pay greater scrutiny to the ways water is used. Fortunately, there is a great deal of information and experience in reducing water use in a cost-efficient manner. As a result, water-conserving families enjoy more than environmental benefits. They also enjoy the cost-saving efficiencies of a well-run home.
Water Conservation in Homes
1. Check faucets and pipes for leaks.
A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
2. Don't use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.
Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue or other small bit of trash, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.
3. Check your toilets for leaks.
Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
4. Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks.
Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
5. Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators.
Inexpensive water-saving low-flow shower heads or restrictors are easy for the homeowner to install. Also, long, hot showers can use five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse off. "Low-flow" means it uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute.
Also, all household faucets should be fit with aerators. This single best home water conservation method is also the cheapest!
6. Consider installing "dual flush" or "low flush" toilets, which use 1/2 to 2 gallons per flush instead of the usual 3 to 5 gallons.
Replacing an 18 liter per flush toilet with an ultra-low volume (ULV) 6 liter flush model represents a 70% savings in water flushed and will cut indoor water use by about 30%.
7. Insulate your water pipes.
It's easy and inexpensive to insulate your water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe insulation. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
8. Take shorter showers.
One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, and then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.
9. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush.
There's no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
10. Rinse your razor in the sink.
Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.
11. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads.
Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation. Most makers of dishwashing soap recommend not pre-rinsing dishes which is a big water savings. With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse. For partial loads, adjust water levels to match the size of the load. Replace old clothes washers. New Energy Star rated washers use 35 - 50% less water and 50% less energy per load. If you're in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving frontload washer.
12. Minimize use of kitchen sink garbage disposal units.
In-sink 'garburators' require lots of water to operate properly, and also add considerably to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to maintenance problems. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste.
13. When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing.
If your have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a pan full of hot water. Dual-swivel aerators are available to make this easier.
14. Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables.
Just rinse them in a sink using a stopper or a pan of clean water.
15. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge.
Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful. Store drinking water in the fridge in a safe drinking bottle.
Water Conservation in the Yard
1. Plant drought-resistant lawns, shrubs and plants.
If you are planting a new lawn, or seeding an existing lawn, use drought-resistant grasses such as Bermuda grass.
Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less watering than other species. Replace herbaceous perennial borders with native plants. Native plants will use less water and be more resistant to local plant diseases. Consider applying the principles of Xeriscaping for a low-maintenance, drought resistant yard.
Plant slopes with plants that will retain water and help reduce runoff.
Group plants according to their watering needs.
2. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants.
Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth. Adding 2 - 4 inches of organic material such as compost or bark mulch will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture. Press the mulch down around the drip-line of each plant to form a slight depression which will prevent or minimize water runoff.
3. Don't water the sidewalk.
Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas. Also, avoid watering on windy days and during the mid-day.
4. Water your lawn only when it needs it.
A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. Letting the grass grow taller (to 3") will also promote water retention in the soil. Install a moisture meter that turns your irrigation system on and off as the soil needs moisture. Install a rain meter so you aren't watering while it's raining.
5. Deep-soak your lawn with drip irrigation.
When watering the lawn, provide irrigation that gets down to the roots where it will do the most good. Drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation or micro-irrigation, is an irrigation method which saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters.
6. Water during the early parts of the day; avoid watering when it's windy.
Early morning is generally better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Early watering, and late watering, also reduce water loss to evaporation. Watering early in the day is also the best defense against slugs and other garden pests. Try not to water when it's windy - wind can blow sprinklers off target and speed evaporation.
7. Add organic matter and use efficient watering systems for shrubs, flower beds and lawns.
Adding organic material to your soil will help increase its absorption and water retention. Areas which are already planted can be 'top dressed' with compost or organic matter.
You can greatly reduce the amount of water used for shrubs, beds and lawns by:
- the strategic placement of soaker hoses
- installing a rain barrel water catchment system
- installing a simple drip-irrigation system
Avoid over-watering plants and shrubs, as this can actually diminish plant health and cause yellowing of the leaves.
When hand watering, use a variable spray nozzle for targeted watering.
8. Don't run the hose while washing your car.
Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the hose only for rinsing - this simple practice can save as much as 150 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water. Better yet, use a waterless car washing system; there are several brands on the market.
9. Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
10. Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings.
Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they're not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks indoors. Check frequently to keep them drip-free. Use hose washers at spigots and hose connections to eliminate leaks.
Water conservation comes naturally when everyone in the family is aware of its importance, and parents take the time to teach children some of the simple water-saving methods around the home which can make a big difference.
