Water Conservation- 5 Easy Ways to Save Water
Five very simple ways to save water are: Fix the leaks, turn off the tap, run it only when the load is full, lower your meat consumption, and switch to sustainable clothing.
The moment you wake up until you go to bed, you are constantly using water throughout the day. Flushing the toilet, showering, brushing your teeth, drinking coffee, cooking, and cleaning, almost every activity we do on a daily basis requires water. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home. Roughly 70% of this use occurs indoors.
Why should we Save Water?
Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, energy, and food production, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself… [it is also] serving as the crucial link between society and the environment says the United Nations (UN). 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, while 97% of the earth’s water is found in the oceans which is too salty for drinking, growing crops and even industrial uses. Only 3% of the earth’s water is fresh, of that 2.5% is unavailable… locked up in glaciers, polar ice caps, atmosphere, and soil; highly polluted, or lies too far under the earth's surface to be extracted at an affordable cost.
It is easy to forget the importance of water given that we literally see water everywhere we go. However, water is… vital for reducing the global burden of disease and improving the health, education and economic productivity of populations says the UN. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, a leak that fills up a coffee cup in 10 minutes will waste over 3,000 gallons of water in a year. That's 65 glasses of water every day for a year. Additionally, a gallon of paint or a quart of motor oil can seep into the earth and pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. It is critical that we save water in our everyday lives to minimize drought, water shortages and to preserve our environment.
5 Ways to Save Water
Fix the leaks
According to the EPA, the average family in America can waste 180 gallons per week, or 9,400 gallons of water annually, from household leaks. That's equivalent to the amount of water needed to wash more than 300 loads of laundry. Household leaks can waste approximately nearly 900 billion gallons of water annually nationwide. That's equal to the annual household water use of nearly 11 million homes. If you have a leak, it’s time to get it fixed. Small leaks can be fixed yourself or call a plumber to come and help.
Turn off the tap
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 8 gallons of water per day and, while shaving, can save 10 gallons of water per shave. Assuming you brush your teeth twice daily and shave 5 times per week, you could save nearly 5,700 gallons per year. Letting your faucet run for five minutes while washing dishes can waste 10 gallons of water and uses enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 18 hours. Turn the tap off when not in use, even if only for a few minutes.
Run it only when full
While it is important to switch to energy-efficient appliances, it is equally important to run your appliances when it is full. If you live in an apartment or don’t have access to energy-efficient appliances, this is a super important step to take. Running the dishwasher only when it's full can eliminate one load of dishes per week and save the average family nearly 320 gallons of water annually.
Lower your meat consumption
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), on average, agriculture accounts for 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals. In the last 30 years, food production has increased by more than 100 percent. FAO estimates that about 60 percent more food will be needed by 2050 to meet the food requirements of a growing global population. A kilogram of beef takes up to 15 tonnes of water to produce. Try eliminating meat once a week, or more if you are willing.
Switch to Sustainable Clothing
Your clothes have many impacts on the environment… from growing the fiber, processing the fiber, manufacturing, transportation to caring for your clothes (washing and discarding). Purchase products that are made from organically grown fibers such as organic cotton t-shirts. Organic cotton uses almost 88% less water than conventional cotton. Avoid synthetic fabrics such as polyester when possible. If you are looking to buy makeup bags in bulk for your beauty brands, please contact us at gallant@gallantintl.com
How do you save water at home and at work?