Saving Water
Water Conservation
Introduction:
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.
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.
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