Make Small Changes Inside And Out Of Your Home To Conserve Water
Posted on: 1 April 2015
With global warming a real and immediate threat, scientists are warning the public that the earth's available fresh drinking water supply is a limited, precious resource that could one day cease to provide enough water for everyone. Given this fact, national and local governments around the world have instituted water rationing in certain "at risk" regions, as well as bans on wasteful water usage like watering a lawn or garden during a drought. Regardless of if you live in an at-risk region, drought region, or an area that gets plenty of rain year round; it's important to conserve fresh water whenever possible to reduce the stress placed on local water supplies. You or your landscaper can conserve a large amount of water just by making a few small changes.
Indoor Changes
The first place to start conserving water is inside your home. Follow these tips to stop water waste easily:
Check faucets and pipes for leaks, or damage that could cause leaks, and then repair any problem spots.
Packing large loads of clothing, linens and blankets in a washing machine often results in having to double rinse your laundry in order to remove detergents and powders that become trapped in materials. Clean smaller loads frequently and use quick wash and rinse cycles that require less water.
On the other hand, washing dishes by hand, or small loads in a dishwasher, wastes more water over time than cleaning large loads using a dishwasher. If you can, use a dishwasher and ensure that it is as full as possible before running it.
Additionally, reuse indoor water whenever possible by:
Instead of pouring water that you used to boil eggs or make pasta down the drain, use it to water outdoor plants. With pasta water, freeze it to use later as a thickening agent in other recipes.
Pour leftover drinking water from a glass on indoor plants, set up a sealed drinking water container and refrigerate the water to drink later or make ice with it.
Invest in hand soaps that are safe for the environment. You can do this by washing your hands in a basin and then pouring the water over plants outside, or by using the suds to clean a toilet.
Outdoors Changes
Once you're finished with indoor methods for conserving water, turn to outdoor solutions:
As with water systems indoors, check outdoor water lines, associated equipment outdoors and sprinkler/irrigation systems for leaks and damage and then repair them as needed.
Invest in newer watering systems and related equipment that work on carefully scheduled timers and use water more efficiently than older solutions.
Invest in a lawn made of grasses that have leaves and roots that retain moisture longer than standard lawn grass varieties. Talk to your landscaper about what sort of plants and grasses require the least amount of watering. Not only will a landscape designer help you pick out the best water conserving plants, he will be able to ensure that your new eco-friendly lawn looks great, as well.
Water your yard in the early morning to prevent rapid evaporation caused by the sun in the afternoon.
Take advantage of the free primary above-ground water source that mother nature provides to you without charge -- rain. Set up rain barrels with spigots around your property in open areas and under downspouts.
When you're dealing with water rationing or a drought, if local laws permit, attach a hose or irrigation line to the spigot and water your yard.
With a few simple changes to how you deal with water inside of your home and out, you'll be able to conserve water without drastically changing your way of life.
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