Water may seem like an infinite resource, but during the hot summer months the threat of drought and increased demand often severely limits its use. Public water suppliers may be restricted on how much water can be pumped on a daily basis. On average, an American household uses nearly 260 gallons of water each day. This amount climbs to around 1,000 gallons per day during the summer months with some households using as much as 3,000 gallons a day (40% of which is used outdoors). Why? Well, we water our lawns and plants, let our kids run through the sprinkler, and we take more showers. Since we play more and sweat more, we also end up doing more laundry. So, let’s be mindful that water is a precious resource and try to adopt smart water conservation methods to reduce water usage in and around the home. Consider the following tips to conserve and to insure water for our needs now and for future generations.

Home Water Use

• Install water-saving shower heads and faucets.
• One full load of dishes in a dishwasher uses water more efficiently than scrubbing dishes by hand.
• Shut off water when not in use.
  • Use a full sink to rinse your razor while shaving.
  • Turn water off when brushing your teeth.
  • Switch off shower while lathering up with soap and shampoo.
  • Rinse vegetables or fruits in a container of water rather than running water.
  • Take shorter showers or shallow baths.
• Don't waste water adjusting temperature.
  • Fill the tub as water is switching from cold to hot instead of letting cold water go to waste.
  • Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator so it always stays cold instead of turning on the faucet and waiting for it to get cold.
• Do not neglect leaky home plumbing. Tiny leaks can waste gallons of water over time.

Outdoor Water Use

• Water your lawn early or late in the day and only when needed. Watering during the heat of day causes a higher rate of evaporation.
• Install a drip irrigation system for more efficient garden watering.
• Mulch your garden and trees to lock in moisture in the soil.
• Make or purchase a rain barrel. Rain barrels can collect up to 632 gallons of water per inch of rain that falls on a 1,000-square-foot roof. This water can be stored for later uses such as washing automobiles, cleaning windows, or porches.
• Take your automobile to a commercial car wash since they tend to use water more efficiently and recycle the water.
• Use a trigger nozzle on hoses to easily regulate the flow of water and to be sure the connection from the hose to the faucet is tight and leak-free.

As you think of how to use water every single day, start thinking of more ways in which you can use water more efficiently. With only 1% of all water available for human consumption, doesn’t it make sense that we treat our current water supply with more respect?

As Thomas Fuller (1732) once said, “We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”

References

Environmental Protection Agency. (2010, December 2). Conserving water. Green Building. Retrieved April 15, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/ConserveWater.htm.

Quote Garden. (2012, January 9). Quotations about water. Retrieved April 23, 2012, from http://www.quotegarden.com/water.html.

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