Although it flows freely from our faucets day in and day out, our actual freshwater supply is limited. Of all the water on planet earth, only 3% is fresh (meaning drinkable for humans and not salty), and 2.5% of that is currently unusable. The majority of available fresh water is either too polluted for use, locked away in glaciers and polar ice caps or too much of a financial burden to extract from the atmosphere, surrounding soil or below the surface.1
“That leaves 0.5% of the earth’s water available for use, which isn’t a lot.”
According to the EPA, drinking water and wastewater systems alone account for 2% of the U.S.’s entire energy use and more than 45 million tons of greenhouse gases annually — AKA the gases that scientists attribute to global warming.2 Thus, it’s easy to understand then why cities, states, and governments worldwide are implementing water restrictions.
Therefore, reducing water usage is the right environmental decision and a smart financial decision that helps lower your energy bills. Here are 15 quick and easy water-saving tips you can implement in your life that can reduce water usage and keep our planet in tip-top shape.
1. Turn Off the Faucet When Brushing Your Teeth or Shaving
Simply turning the faucet off when you brush your teeth in the mornings and evenings can save 8 gallons of water per day. That’s 200 gallons a month in gray water — household wastewater that doesn’t contain serious contaminants — that doesn’t need to be treated.3
2. Turn Off the Faucet When Washing Your Hands
The same goes for when you wash your hands. Instead of leaving the faucet running during the 20 seconds you should be lathering your hands for public health, tap it off with the top of your wrist — and do that every time! Since you wash your hands multiple times a day, you will save even more water than when you brush your teeth.
3. Repair Leaky Faucets
We were shocked to learn how much water an average home wastes due to leaky faucets. According to the EPA, the average household wastes 10,000 gallons of perfectly good water every year. For the U.S. alone, that equates to 1 trillion gallons of water (that’s 1,000,000,000,000 gallons).4
Thankfully, the EPA provides a very easy and free guide for detecting water leaks in your home. In 10 short minutes, you can spot leaks and then fix them or call a repairperson. The result is immediate savings on your water bills.
4. Reduce Lawn Watering
A well-manicured and healthy lawn is a sight to behold, though it’s sometimes required by homeowner associations. However, most established lawns will do just fine without regular watering. According to the EPA, landscape irrigation (sprinklers and hoses) accounts for about 9 billion gallons of water per day in the U.S.5 That’s a lot of water just to keep some grass looking good.
Instead, consider planting drought-resistant grass. Choose one of the many brands and varieties that don’t require a heavy drink after a dry summer day.
5. Water Only in the Morning or Evening
If your grass is on the verge of collapse, experts say you should only water in the morning and evenings. That way, the grass can absorb the water better before it evaporates in the hot summer heat. This reduces the amount of water you’ll need and how often you need to water.
6. Sweep Your Driveway or Patio
We’ve all seen those uber-satisfying videos on social media of people pressure washing their patios and driveways. Everything looks so clean, and completing the task looks relaxing. However, that chore wastes lots of good water. Instead, get out the broom and do a thorough sweep. Your driveway will get just as clean, and a little hard work (maybe even by your kids) will be rewarded with eco-friendly and wallet-friendly savings.
15. Consider a Rain Barrel
Unless you live in Colorado, which is the only state that has made collecting rainwater completely illegal, you should think about investing in a rain barrel. These are a great way to catch excess rainwater, and they can keep your property from being inundated with water during a big storm. You can then use what you collected as water for plants and outdoor cleaning tasks instead of using water from a faucet. This saves energy because less water has to be treated and it saves you on water bills.
You Can Help to Protect the World’s Water Supply
The benefits of water conservation are clear: Not only does it help protect our rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wildlife, but it also reduces the amount of water that needs to be treated. This ultimately leads to big savings for everyone — including you — and fewer greenhouse gases. Water is truly life, and protecting life includes cherishing our available fresh water, conserving it and keeping it safe.
To learn more about green living and even more ways to save on energy, check out our blog and Chariot University page!
Sources:
- https://www.usbr.gov/mp/arwec/water-facts-ww-water-sup.html
- https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/energy-efficiency-water-utilities
- https://blog.epa.gov/2014/04/23/earth-month-tip-turn-off-the-tap/
- https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week
- https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/www3/watersense/pubs/outdoor.html
- https://blog.epa.gov/2014/04/09/take-a-shower/
- https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home#benefits