Even if you’re not living in an area that is prone to droughts, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to conserve water at home. Not only does conserving water help the environment, but it will also lower your water bills every month! To get started, follow these tips:
Use a bucket in the shower.
Imagine how much water is wasted as you wait for your shower to heat up every morning. Don’t worry, you don’t have to take a cold shower in order to conserve water! Simply place a bucket in the shower before you get in to collect the cold water. Take it out when the water is hot and you’re ready to get in, and then use the water you’ve collected to water your garden or flush your toilet.
Run full loads.
Did you know a washing machine uses the same amount of water for a half load that it does for a full load? That means when you decide to throw just a few items into the wash, you’re wasting a lot of water that could be used to clean other clothes. Always wait until you have a full load of laundry to start the washer.
Water your lawn in the morning.
When you choose to turn your sprinklers on in the middle of the day, you will actually be wasting water. Temperatures are hotter in the middle of the day, so the water that you spray across your lawn will evaporate more quickly, meaning you will need more water to hydrate your plants. If you water your lawn in the morning when temperatures are still cooler, you won’t lose as much water to evaporation so you will use less overall.
Fix leaky faucets.
That “drip, drip, drip” is not only annoying to listen to, but it’s also wasting gallons of water! A faucet that leaks 60 drops a minute, or one per second, will waste 192 gallons of water a month. If you hear any drips—from a faucet, toilet or showerhead—make sure you have them fixed as soon as possible.
Wash your pets outside.
Many pet owners wash their furry friends in the tub, but to save water, take them outside and wash them in the grass. When you do this, the water that runs off of your pet’s body will go into the grass and water your lawn at the same time.
Do the dishes properly.
Don’t pre-rinse your dishes in the sink before putting them in the dishwasher. Instead, just scrap off all of the food remaining on the plate and load up the dishwasher. If you only hand wash your dishes, fill up the sink with water instead of letting it run while you scrub each dish.
Cover the pool.
If you don’t already have a pool cover, it is a wise decision to invest in one. Water in uncovered pools slowly evaporates, especially during the hot summer months. If a pool is uncovered, hundreds of gallons of water can evaporate every month, meaning you will have to waste water to refill the pool.
Who knew water conservation could be so easy? Get the whole family involved in your water conservation efforts to really see a difference on your monthly water bills.
