We hear a lot about water conservation these days in circles that are concerned about the environment and personal responsibility. And you know, that’s for good reason. The fact is, most of us are using more than we need to. So for those of us who are living our daily lives and want to know what we can do to do our part, let’s talk about the little things. Things we can all be mindful of, to save water.
Now, I’m not a climate expert or an expert on water conservation. I’ve been reading up on the subject for these past few weeks because I’m interested, and it matters. These are the things that I’ve found from different places that I thought I’d share with you all, because they’re things that we can keep in mind even if we’re not experts. I wanted a list for us regular people who care, and that’s what this list is. It’s not in any particular order. If you’re someone who can do something on this list, then give it a try! We can all pitch in one way or another, to be less of a strain on this planet.
#1 Be mindful of your food
We don’t often think about how much water is used to get us our food, but it matters. And there are a few things you can do to reduce the amount of water used to feed you and your family.
Meat:
You’re going to want to eat less meat. It uses more water than plant based foods, pretty much across the board. Most of it is used to water the crops that the animals then eat, but a small amount of water usage is also in the water the animals need to drink.
Processed foods:
Also, cut down on packaged and processed foods. More water (not to mention other resources) is used during processing.
Local Foods:
Another thing to think about is where your food is coming from. First, depending on where your food is being shipped from, it may be a more water-intensive process, or in the case of specific places, be contributing to a drought in a particular area. Like California if you are in the United States. California produces a lot of the food for the US and uses water that effects the whole southwest in its usage. Not to mention that transporting the food also increases the water footprint of a food. The further you have to transport it, the more water will be used. So consider looking into eating local foods when possible.
#2 Don’t let the water run
So this one is simple and has many applications, but don’t run your water when you don’t need it. For example, a lot of people will let the water run as they brush their teeth or rinse their dishes off with running water after they’ve washed them. And we don’t think much about these little things but as they become daily habits, the water usage becomes quite a lot.
Turn off the sink if you’re not actively using the water. And if you have a way of using a predetermined amount of still water to rinse your dishes, then do that instead. In short, don’t run your water unless you actually need it. And try to find creative ways to not have to use it in that capacity. In your hygiene routines, in the kitchen, and when washing your car.
#3 Leaky sinks are the enemy
In the same vein, don’t let your sink stay drippy. You want to get your broken sink fixed as soon as you can. We don’t think that those drips account for much, but they drip all day and night, and believe me, it adds up.
It’s a little thing, sure. But if you live in a condo or apartment with a leaky sink, call maintenance to fix it. (They won’t want to be responsible for the extra water usage either.) And if the place you live in doesn’t have a maintenance service, learn how to fix a dripping sink on your own.
Here’s a quick video from Pure Plumbing to help you out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Htg5KwQh6DA
#4 Use a trash can
Okay, so having a lot of trash to throw away definitely isn’t the most “green” thing, but if you’ve got trash, be sure to actually put it in your trash can. I wasn’t aware of this habit until recently, but some people will use their toilet to dispose of waste.
This is bad on two fronts. First of all, any time you’re putting something unaccounted for in your pipes, you’re risking getting them clogged up which can really mess with your ability to use your plumbing in the first place. But also, each time you flush the toilet, that’s a couple more gallons of water that you’re using. That usage is completely unnecessary if you’re just trying to throw something away.
So your toilet is only for your excrement. Not your trash, okay? If you’re in the habit of doing this a lot, you might be saving a lot of water simply by changing this one thing.
#5 Getting clean
As we all know, bathing is a common frequent practice in society today, and it uses water. If you’re showering every day or every other day and you really love to sit in the shower and pontificate…ponder…luxuriate…well, you’re probably using a lot of water.
Now, I’m not going to scold you for this practice. Because I love to think about life and sing (etc) while I’m getting clean too. But there are ways of using less water. First, you can try shorter showers. Also, consider getting a new showerhead that will let less water through. However, if you’re like me and seemingly unable to get clean without letting your mind wander, you might want to switch to baths. If you fill your bathtub only with the water you absolutely need, you’ll use less water than a long shower. And good news, you can sit in it and think for as long as you want. If you want to take an hour-long bath, the only issue is the extra time you’ll be spending.
#6 Use the rain
I read this a lot in my research about conserving water and I just love the idea of collecting rainwater and using it for whatever you might need. It just hits that perfect spot between rational and wholesome that tickles my fancy.
But they really have a point, too. Because we spend so much time talking about how to use less water that we tend to not even think about using the water we’re already blessed with, straight from the sky! So next time it rains, consider putting out some containers to collect the water that you can later use to clean your floors (for example).
#7 Don’t do your laundry!
Okay, I had to put a sort of silly title on this one, I just couldn’t help it. But this is advice that more of us can probably adhere to, since it appeals to our lazy side. The average washing machine uses 35 gallons of water per load, and if it’s not a full load of laundry, it doesn’t just automatically use less.
So, the advice is simple. Wait to do your laundry until you have a full load. Don’t wash partial loads in succession, because it’s a waste of water. And also, you’ll save money this way. Whether you’re paying to use the washing machine or paying for the electricity and water you need to run it, doing your laundry less will be good for your wallet. So be lazy! Don’t do your laundry as often.
#8 Buy less, buy different
I’ve heard it said that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism and I’m not going to argue with that. But I will say that you can try to make more conscious buying choices. Buying things that have less processing, packaging and shipping will help reduce your water footprint, so it’s important to keep in mind that the choices we make do matter.
But also, it’s time we all start buying less. In developed countries such as the United States, even poor people are buying more than they need, and it’s problematic on so many levels. (But that’s a story for another day.) The fact is, everything you buy that you didn’t need is just creating more water usage in shipping, packaging and processing. Don’t let this get you into some sort of weird guilty funk for being a person who has needs, there’s nothing you can do about that and we can’t save the world by ourselves anyway. But we can keep a close eye on our buying habits and put the kibosh on unnecessary purchases. This planet (and your wallet) will thank you.
#9 Learn more about landscaping
As a little bonus, I wanted to add a bit about your landscaping (lawn, garden, etc). This is an area where people use a lot more water than they need to, and there seems to be lots to learn on the subject, because it seemed like every site had a different recommendation.
But I will say this. If you have a yard, look into ways where you can cut down your water usage. Learn when the best times are to water your lawn, and the most efficient ways of doing it. Consider switching from a lawn of grass to an area with other plants that may not need as much attention. And only water your lawn when and where it actually needs it.
Thank you everyone for reading my words. If you want to learn more about water conservation, I recommend starting out with watercalculator.org. They’re got information on water usage and water conservation, as well as educational resources for you to learn more or show to others. You can find their website here, If you’re interested. And as always, have a lovely day!