Each day you allow precious water to drip through your pipes, into the sink and onto your pavement, effectively wasting one of Earth's most important and valuable resources. If you're striving to help your family become more environmentally conscious, making small daily changes is often easier than imposing huge adaptations. Asking your family to use six ways to conserve water every day can save your family gallons of water and energy, and allow you to feel good about your contribution to protecting the environment.
Store Drinking Water
Almost everyone is guilty of turning on the faucet and allowing it to run for a few seconds to get the water cool for a drink. But allowing your faucet to run wastes gallons of water each year as you pour it down the drain. Instead of using the faucet for a drink of water, fill a pitcher with water and store in the fridge to keep cool, suggests AmericanWater.com. It will stay the optimum temperature and you'll stop wasting water.
Inspect Outdoor Faucets
A dripping faucet in the house can drive you crazy, which is why you are sure to turn the faucets off tightly. Faucets and hoses outside may not get the same treatment, as they are out of sight and out of mind. Go outside and inspect your outdoor faucets and hoses for drips, leaks and holes, says WaterUseItWisely.com. Make sure that you aren't wasting water while your outdoor fixtures aren't in use.
Wash, Brush, Shower
Save water easily by bringing your toiletries into the shower with you and washing your face, shaving and brushing your teeth in the shower. It may seem like an adjustment at first, but streamlining your hygienic routine can help you save gallons of water each year.
Use a Low-Flow Toilet
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 4.8 million gallons of water are flushed down toilets every day. Instead of wasting that water, consider a low-flush toilet, or a dual-flushing toilet that gives you the option to flush for liquid or solid waste. If your toilet was installed before 1992, it's time for an update, since those models waste more money and water than modern ones.
Garden Wisely
Take a visit to your neighborhood nursery and talk to an expert about plants that are indigenous to the area and plants that can survive on little water. Depending on the area of the country you live in, the National Resources Conservation Services notes that you can choose lush, leafy plants that need minimal watering to enhance your landscaping. Add pavement, rocks and step stones for a more water-free aesthetic.
Bathe Less
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that the average bath takes 70 gallons to fill, while the typical five-minute shower takes only 15 to 20 gallons of water. Make the switch to showers and encourage your children to do the same. Better yet, install a timer in the shower for five minutes so everyone in the family is doing their part to save water.
Member Comments