Five Ways To Reduce Your Water Usage

Water is one of the planet's most valuable and important resources and, unfortunately, it is not in as endless supply as we assume it to be. If we continue to consumer water at the rate in which we currently do, then we will experience severe water shortages around the globe by 2040.
That is not to say that the Earth will run out of water but that humans will run low on access to fresh water supplies; the type that is safe for human consumption.

But how do we avoid this travesty and ensure that we do not use up this limited resource?
Well, the answer is simple. By living more sustainably and being more conscious of how much water we consume within our household, we can work towards reduce our water usage as a planet and help conserve this resource.

Here are five simple things that you can start doing today to make a real change…

Dishwashers are more water-efficient than handwashing

The common assumption is that dishwashers waste a lot of water and are probably more harmful to the environment than they are helpful – this is not the case.
On average, dishwashers have been found to be four times more water-efficient than washing by hand. Therefore, installing a dishwasher and using it regularly (and only on full loads) will go a long way towards reducing your household water consumption. Plus, it will free up a lot of time for you!

Shorter showers can help save the planet

Have you ever timed yourself in the shower?
According to research, the average person spends roughly 8 minutes in the shower each day although this can vary depending on a few factors, such as hair washing days.
Though this may not seem like a long time, each minute spent in the shower requires just under one gallon of water. This means that by cutting down your showers by 2-3 minutes a day you could end up saving close to 14 gallons of water a week which would be enough water to meet the required daily intake of a person for 21 days. That is a lot of water.

Save water by not leaving the tap running

It is a harmful habit but we are all guilty of doing it from time to time. Whether it is when we are brushing our teeth or washing our face, it is easy to leave the tap running when water isn't even being used. This is wasting a lot of water. In fact, a running tap can use up to 9 litres of water per minute.
Therefore, make more of a conscious effort to turn the tap off when it isn't being used to reduce how much water is going to waste in your home.

Only use the washing machine for full loads

The average family home (which consists of two adults and two children) finds themselves doing four loads of washing every week. One cycle on a washing machine uses approximately 39 to 53 litres of water depending on the temperature, size of the load, water pressure and a few other factors. This can equate to almost 200 litres of water being consumed every week for clothes washing.

Even cutting down your number of weekly washes by one can make a significant difference, and this is easily done. For example, you should only use your washing machine when you have a full load and you don't need to wash your clothes after every wear only when they are dirty or begin to smell.

Water your plants and grass with a watering can rather than a hose

With summer quickly approaching, there will be a sudden need to start watering your garden as we experience long periods of time without any rain.
It is easy to lose track of how much water you are consuming when you use a hose whether it's to water your garden or wash your car. Not only can hoses be wasteful but they also contain harmful toxins that are released into the environment every time you use them.

By opting, instead, for a watering can, you can be more mindful of how much water you are using and have better control over it too.