By Ludi Hernandez, NBC Universal
A lack of water to meet daily needs is a reality for many people around the world and has serious health consequences. Globally, water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people. The situation is getting worse due to population growth, urbanization and increased domestic and industrial water use.
The nation consumes about 402 billion gallons of water a year. The average North American consumes 170 gallons per day, more than seven times the per capita average in the rest of the world and nearly triple Europe's level. Wow! That's a lot of water!! While we consume more than we should, there are many people, globally, that face the challenge of getting adequate clean water, one of the most valuable resources essential to the environment and our lives.
Knowing this, I feel it is my responsibility to take action to save water! Here are a few things I do to save water at home (it also helps with reducing the water bill).
At home, there are every day appliances that can be water guzzlers! Following some of these easy steps can help reduce the amount of water we waste:
- Replace your Showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute. This item can save you a couple hundreds of dollars on your water bill.
A lack of water to meet daily needs is a reality for many people around the world and has serious health consequences. Globally, water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people. The situation is getting worse due to population growth, urbanization and increased domestic and industrial water use.
The nation consumes about 402 billion gallons of water a year. The average North American consumes 170 gallons per day, more than seven times the per capita average in the rest of the world and nearly triple Europe's level. Wow! That's a lot of water!! While we consume more than we should, there are many people, globally, that face the challenge of getting adequate clean water, one of the most valuable resources essential to the environment and our lives.
Knowing this, I feel it is my responsibility to take action to save water! Here are a few things I do to save water at home (it also helps with reducing the water bill).
At home, there are every day appliances that can be water guzzlers! Following some of these easy steps can help reduce the amount of water we waste:
- Replace your Showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute. This item can save you a couple hundreds of dollars on your water bill.
- Take Shorter Showers
- Turn off tap while shaving, washing your face or brushing your teeth. I usually fill up a cup of water to rinse out my mouth after brushing my teeth.
- Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run for a cool glass of water.
- To thaw out food, I like to use the microwave instead of running water.
- My Mother taught me to always fill one side of my sink with soapy water to wash them. I then rinse them out with a slow stream of water. Thanks Mom!!!
- Repair leaks
- Wash FULL loads
Take action to save water so that we can all have enough water for ourselves and for generations to come. It's everyone's responsibility! I'm doing my part... will you?
Check out the following links for more tips on how to conserve water:
- http://kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2007/10/water.html
- http://www.greensangha.org/savewater.pdf
- http://earth911.org/water/water-conservation/saving-water-outside/
- http://www.h2ouse.org/
Ludi Hernandez
Coordinator
NBC.com
When I do my dishes, I fill one sink up with soapy water and then when I rinse. I turn the water on and off for each dish. I wash all the silverware and put them in the dish holder in the sink and then rinse them all at once.
When I brush my teeth, I turn on the water to wet my toothbrush and put rinse water in a cup, then turn it off after I have brushed my teeth, I rinse with the water in the cup and then I turn on the faucet to rinse my toothbrush.
When I do laundry, I only do full loads and I use warm to wash and cold to rinse, to save electricity too.
When washing dishes you can fill up one side with soapy water and one side with plain water and dip your soapy dishes to get the soap off, uses less water unless you have a ton of dishes.
One way to control the time we shower is to put a song. It
is easy to loose track of time.
I have a dog and to wash the patio, first I "rinse" the patio
with two buckets of water from my shower, and then I
finish with a little clean water.
It is the rainy season in Mexico right now. I have saved rather
large plastic containers, and I am now saving some water in
them to use later to water my plants. I am also using this
water in the toilet right now.
Best regards
Gianna
Gianna
By the time my shower water is warm, I have already soaped up and have shampoo on my head - I quickly suds and rinse and voila! in and out in under 3 minutes.
Water in a squirt bottle goes farther for windows, houseplants, etc.................
I save the drip water from the air conditioner and use it to water my tomato and jalapeno plants. It is truly a time and energy saver especially since my 5 year old son loves to help. And its like having free water.