One way we can all help to protect the environment is to STOP WASTING WATER. Wondering where to start or what to do? Here’s 20 ideas you can implement TODAY!
- Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.
- Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
- Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
- Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
- If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient showerhead.
- Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and reuse it to water houseplants.
- Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1000 gallons a month.
- When you clean your fish tank, use the water you’ve drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
- Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It’s easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
- Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
- Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
- Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
- Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
- Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
- When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
- If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
- While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
- When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don’t throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant.
- Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.
What other great ways have you found to save water?
