How and Why We Should Monitor Our Water Consumption

Water is a natural resource that the vast majority of us take for granted and abuse, consuming like it is an infinite resource that can never run out. It is important to remember that with the current climate crisis and the planet making a steady increase in temperature year on year – this is causing severe droughts in hotter climates across Africa, Australia, and South America. This in turn causes woodlands and forests to dry out, causing wildfires which create a further reduction in the water supply. Droughts can be declared as early as 15 days after no rain and extreme heat.

There are things that we can all do collectively to ensure that everyone has enough water.

Here are 17 ways in which you can save on your water consumption:

1. Don’t let the water run down the drain and reuse if possible, for example when washing up dishes.

2. Turn off your tap when brushing your teeth. If you brush your teeth twice a day this adds up to 12 liters a day of wasted water.

3. If you have any leaks or drips then fix them. This can save thousands of liters a year.

4. Add insulation to your water pipes to ensure faster hot water.

5. Use biodegradable cleaning products so that you don’t block drainage systems and avoid chemical pollutants.

6. If it’s yellow its mellow. You don’t need to flush the toilet every time you go for a pee. It won’t smell bad after just one use. This can save 6 liters of water per flush

7. Observe each item of clothing before washing them. Does it really need to be washed is it actually dirty? Or can it just be hung outside to refresh for a while?

8. Most clothes don’t actually need heat to be washed effectively so turn down the heat a little bit.

9. Do not wash your clothes until you have a full load. one person should never need to wash their clothes more than once a week. This also saves you financially.

10. Showers use less water than baths, so hopefully, you are like me and a big shower person. Although the odd bath here and there is ok, try to make more use of a shower.

11. Refrigerate your water for cold water don’t run the tap.

12. Don’t wash oily pans in the sink as it requires more water and adds to the chemical pollutants in the sewers and blocks them.

13. Don’t run the tap when washing dishes. Fill up a bowl or sink and reuse the water.

14. Dishwashers are more efficient than washing my hands in terms of water use but don’t switch it on until it is completely full. No half loads.

15. If you need to water your garden do this early in the morning to avoid evaporation from heat and wind.  Group your plants and flowers based on their water needs.

16. Create awareness. Talk about water-saving techniques with friends and neighbors so that they can also follow.

17. Report broken pipes or water wells to authorities to repair as quickly as possible.