3.3.1.a. Conserve Water

1. Don’t keep water taps running while brushing, shaving, washing or bathing.

Keeping taps running wastes a significant amount of water. When you brush your teeth, shave, wash your hands, or bathe, you can easily turn off the tap between these activities. This simple habit can save liters of water every day.

Think of water as a precious resource, similar to money. If you wouldn't leave a dollar bill on the table while you walked away, why would you let water run down the drain? By turning off the tap when unnecessary, you're saving 'money'—in this case, water.

2. In washing machines fill the machine only to the level required for your clothes.

Washing machines use a set amount of water regardless of the load size. Filling the machine to the appropriate level conserves water and energy, ensuring that you're not using more resources than necessary for a wash.

Imagine baking cookies. If you only have enough dough for half a tray but bake a full tray, you're wasting energy and resources. Using the washing machine in the correct way is like baking only what you have enough dough for.

3. Install water saving toilets that use not more than 6 liters per flush.

Traditional toilets can use up to 12 liters of water per flush, whereas modern water-saving toilets use only about 6 liters or less. This reduction in water usage not only conserves water but also lowers your water bill.

Consider a sponge soaking up a lot of water—it's inefficient. A water-saving toilet, like a more efficient sponge, only uses what it needs, helping keep water use minimal.

4. Check for water leaks in pipes and toilets and repair them promptly.

Even small leaks can waste a lot of water over time. Regularly checking for leaks and fixing them can save you hundreds of liters per month, which is crucial for conserving overall water resources.

Think of a small hole in a bucket. Even if it seems tiny, over time, that hole can empty the bucket completely. Just like fixing the hole will save your water, checking for leaks keeps your water usage efficient.

5. Reuse the soapy water of washing from clothes for gardening, driveways etc.

Reusing water from activities like washing clothes can benefit your garden by providing nutrients. This practice encourages resourcefulness and reduces the need for new water for non-potable uses.

It's like collecting rainwater in a bucket. Just as you wouldn't let good water go to waste, reusing soapy water helps in growing plants without using fresh water unnecessarily.

6. Water the plants and the lawns in the evening when evaporation losses are minimum. Never water the plants in mid-day.

Watering in the evening helps reduce evaporation since the air is cooler. This ensures that more water reaches the roots of the plants where it's needed most.

Imagine leaving a glass of water on a sunny windowsill. Most of it evaporates quickly. Similarly, watering plants when it's cooler prevents waste, allowing the plants to absorb more water.

7. Install a system to capture rain water.

Setting up rainwater harvesting systems can significantly enhance water storage. Capturing rainwater reduces dependency on municipal supplies and saves costs.

Imagine a bucket placed outside during a rainstorm. It collects all the water that falls, which can later be used for plants or washing. This simple system mirrors how rainwater harvesting works—collecting and using nature’s bounty.

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