One of the most important parts of sustainable living is reducing waste at home. The water you use contributes significantly to home waste. Did you know that the average person unknowingly wastes up to 30 gallons of water daily? Even when carrying out daily activities such as taking a shower, you can waste about 50 gallons of water! Unfortunately, 44% of household wastewater is not safely treated. So, are you guilty of wasting too much water at home? Here are some ways to reduce this waste.
Take shorter showers or install low-flow shower heads
Of course, you love to stay in the shower for several minutes, enjoying the feel of fresh, warm water as it caresses your skin. But you could be contributing massively to water waste by doing that. Statistics show that about 24 gallons of water a day is in the shower alone! And if you love soaking your body in a stress-relieving bath, keep in mind that most baths are designed to use 33 to 50 gallons of water.
An effective way to reduce water waste is to take shorter baths (about 10 to 15 minutes max) or install low-flow showerheads, as they can reduce water consumption by at least 40%. Also, try keeping your faucet from running when you brush your teeth or wash your hands. Small changes like these can make a massive difference.
Invest in a water-saving equipment
Low-flow showerheads are not the only water-saving equipment you can find. You can find several ways to save and even purify the water you use at home, from water filters to different forms of water-saving tech solutions like smart sprinklers. You can also invest in poly tanks, which are particularly helpful in farms and areas with poor access to regular water.
Fix leaks as soon as possible
Small leakage issues may not seem urgent from dripping showerheads to leaky faucets. But about 3 billion litres (660 million gallons) of water is wasted every year in the UK. That means even the tiniest leakage issue requires immediate attention if you want to reduce water waste.
Water leakage in your home may not always be readily visible like a dripping faucet. So, take the time to look for leakage signs such as a rusty pipe. Once you identify the source of the leakage, ensure that you fix it immediately to prevent further waste.
Only run full loads of laundry or dishes
You don’t want to see your sink stacked with unwashed dishes, but washing every used dish, plate, and cutlery separately can cause you to waste a lot of water. Instead, try running full loads of dishes to help minimise how much water you use. Regarding laundry, some people prefer to wash their clothes as soon as they change. While you don’t want to see laundry pile up, you can save more water if you do your laundry in bulk.
It is vital that you play a part in saving the environment. As water scarcity issues are becoming more prominent, saving water is a great place to start. These tips should help you do so effectively.
