How Can People Conserve Water?

Only 1 percent of the water on this planet is usable by land plants and animals, including humans, to sustain life. The oceans and salt water bodies take up 97 percent and polar and glacial ice take the remaining 2 percent. The amount of available water is not increasing, even while our demands are not. Water conservation is crucial in helping our ever increasing population remain adequately supplied with water. Each of us can do a great deal to help.

Significance

• In the state of Pennsylvania alone, the average daily water consumption per person went up over 1,200 percent during the 20th century. Most of that water use is to remove waste from toilets, sinks, washing machines and the like, but outdoor uses range from 10 to 50 percent of water usage, depending on the area.

Habit Change

• Changing water use habits makes a difference. Simple things such as turning the water off while soaping up or brushing your teeth can cut the amount of water you use for grooming considerably. Buy a shower faucet that allows you to shut off the water with the push of a button without losing the water temperature. Instead of cleaning a porch or drive with a hose, sweep it clean with a broom. Don't defrost food in running water, use the microwave or place it in the refrigerator in advance. Tell your server you do not want an additional glass of water along with your drink while dining out. Flush solid wastes down the toilet only. Only run your washing machine or dishwasher when full. Hand washing dishes using a two-part system, one tub of water for washing and one for rinsing, instead of running the faucet saves a great deal of water.

Toilets

• Toilets are the single biggest users of water in the home. Low-flow toilets reduce the amount of water used per flush by at least 50 percent over older models without a noticeable difference in performance. Even if you occasionally have to flush it twice, the water savings more than make up for it. Air-assisted toilets use only a third of the water low-flow toilets do and, while more expensive to install, pay for themselves in reduced water use. Composting toilets have become a viable option for most homes and can mimic the look of traditional toilets, but use little to no water at all, depending on the model.

Efficient Tools

• Low-flow shower heads and faucets use modern technology to produce high water pressures using only half of the water of their predecessors. Front-loading washing machines and water conserving dishwashers run on a fraction of the water without a loss of cleaning ability, especially when combined with a water softener. Leaky faucets and toilets waste water; repair them promptly.

Outside

• One of the biggest water wasters outside is over watering at the wrong time of day. You should only water lawns every three to five days in the summer with a solid soaking. Water in the morning or evening, never in the hottest part of the day. These two rules will actually result in a better lawn, since it will encourage the roots to grow deeper and will prevent the water from evaporating before it soaks into the ground. Prevent about 90 percent of water loss and having to run the filter in order to remove debris by covering a pool when no one is using it. Retain soil moisture by keeping mulch around plants and plant native species that thrive in the natural water conditions of your area. Use collected rainwater to water plants and flowers.