| While we take water for granted, in many parts of the | | | | load-to-water adjustment, and some have a |
| world clean, running water is non existent or in | | | | suds-saver option that drains wash water into your |
| extremely limited and difficult supply yet many of us, | | | | laundry tub to be reused for another load.10. Instead of |
| with a virtually unlimited supply, waste it - knowingly or | | | | using water with a kitchen sink disposal unit, start a |
| unknowingly.Droughts are cause for concern in some | | | | compost pile in the yard with vegetable and fruit |
| parts because of the low level of water supply. Water | | | | waste.Outdoors:1. Check for leaking taps and pipes. If |
| and water conservation is absolutely necessary to our | | | | you have a water meter, do a test to satisfy yourself |
| survival, and with growing populations it's straining our | | | | you don't have leaks. Read your meter then leave for |
| infrastructure and water resources to the limits. Costs | | | | a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the |
| for providing water to our homes and industry will | | | | reading is exactly the same you can be assured |
| escalate but so will the need to look for new | | | | you're OK. If not you have a leak somewhere on your |
| resources. We can minimize those costs to ourselves | | | | property that needs to be fixed.2. Find leaks and fix. |
| (and ultimately to our environment) by carrying out a | | | | Check first for dripping faucets and replace washers |
| few simple water saving methods in our homes. Here | | | | where necessary. Even if taps are turned off hard, |
| are a few tips: | | | | they can still drip and this is a sure sign washers are |
| Indoors:1. Take shorter showers AND get a low flow | | | | going bad. It sounds amazing but a drip rate of one |
| showerhead. They are inexpensive to buy but get one | | | | drop per second wastes 1,000 liters per month (about |
| that uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute. You won't | | | | 3,000 US gallons per year). Toilets can also leak. It's |
| notice the difference in your showing enjoyment, but | | | | easy to check this by putting a few drops of food |
| you will if you have low water pressure - you'll in fact | | | | coloring in the tank. The color will appears in the bowl |
| get a better shower with a low flow showerhead. | | | | after about half an hour if you have a leak. So replace |
| Some models have a great idea! They allow you to | | | | worn parts - they're cheap and the repairs are easily |
| control the flow while you suds up, then increase the | | | | done.3. Mulch your garden. Mulch is a layer of material |
| water again for rinsing.2. Turn the water off while | | | | spread on top of the soil to conserve moisture, |
| brushing your teeth or shaving. You'll be surprised just | | | | discourage the growth of weeds and even out soil |
| how much water can be wasted this way. Teach | | | | temperature - it can keep up to 70% more water in |
| your children the same good practices.3. Avoid flushing | | | | the soil. Beware of using green lawn clippings - they |
| toilets unnecessarily. Don't put anything except toilet | | | | can pack down quite hard and become a barrier |
| waste into the toilet. Dead spiders, hair balls, cosmetic | | | | stopping water getting to the plants. Better to put them |
| pads and other trash belong in the garbage can, not | | | | into the compost pile and let them break down.4. |
| the toilet. Unfortunately toilets are responsible for a | | | | Water less often but more deeply, and aerate the |
| huge part of household water usage (30-40%). Which | | | | lawn with a fork for more efficient lawn care. Use |
| leads to the next tip ...4. Replace older toilets. The new | | | | drought tolerant grass.5. Add wetting agents to your |
| water efficient dual flush systems available now save | | | | garden, lawns and tub plants to keep water (and |
| a huge amount of water compared to toilets 10 years | | | | nutrients) in the soil. Kitty litter can also be used to hold |
| old or older: The current standard full flush for solid | | | | water in the soil but it does tend to stick together in |
| waste is 1.6 gallons per flush - the half flush for liquid | | | | lumps, so mix it in with the soil.6. Seek information on |
| waste is .8 gallons per flush ... compare this to 3.5 to 7 | | | | plants that are not water hungry. Also group together |
| gallons per flush!5. Attach aerators on all the faucets | | | | plants that have the same water requirements.7. Try |
| in your home. They allow air to be mixed in with the | | | | to water as late or as early as possible to reduce |
| water so less water comes through the taps.6. To | | | | evaporation from your garden, and using a trigger |
| adjust water temperature, turn down one tap instead | | | | nozzle on the hose will save water.8. Raise the lawn |
| of turning up the other because it uses less water and | | | | mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut |
| achieves the same result.7. Collect the water that | | | | higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, |
| comes from hot taps While waiting for the hot water | | | | shades the root system and holds soil moisture. |
| to reach you. It normally goes down the drain, but can | | | | If we practice our own water conservation methods |
| be used for watering plants and cleaning. In areas of | | | | at home we encourage our children to accept that our |
| extreme water shortage pop a bucket in the shower | | | | natural resources are in limited supply - something |
| to collect shower water and this can also be used on | | | | they'll have to come to terms with in the future. And |
| the garden.8. Keep a jug/bottle of water in the fridge | | | | something our present generation too often chooses |
| for drinking. This will save waiting for water to run cool | | | | to ignore.Author: Carmel Muggeridge. Besides being the |
| and, if you're on municipal water, it will reduce the | | | | owner of a website with great credit card offers, |
| chlorine content as it sits in the fridge.9. Run washer or | | | | Carmel is a passionate supporter of good health, our |
| dishwasher when you have full loads OR adjust the | | | | environment and all things natural.All Rights Reserved. |
| water level for smaller loads. Front-load washers use | | | | Article may be reprinted as long as the content |
| about a third less water than top-loading (and less | | | | remains intact and unchanged and links remain active. |
| washing powder). Most also have an automatic | | | | |