6 Tips for Improving Your Water Conservation
Most are well aware of the serious drought that California is facing, but it isn’t the only place lacking water. In fact, the entire west coast of the United States is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought. What this means is that you should be taking water conservation seriously, no matter where you’re located. For some tips on minimizing and making the most of your water usage, check out these tips.
1. Hold Off On Your Garbage Disposal – Running the garbage disposal uses both water and energy, two things we should be conserving. If you have fruit and vegetable left overs, consider using them as compost in your garden or tossing them into your yard waste bin.
2. Re-Use Towels – Re-using towels, whether at home or staying in a hotel room, actually does make a big difference and should be done regularly. In fact, National Geographic reports that laundry accounts for 16% of a hotel’s water usage, tied with landscaping. When we reduce these numbers, we’re going to see results.
3. Use Brooms Over Hoses – When cleaning patios, driveways and sidewalks, consider using an outdoor broom instead of rinsing with water. You will receive the same cleaning benefits all while saving water.
4. Use a Hose Nozzle – If you need to use a hose to wash anything, such as your pet or car, always use a hose with a nozzle that shuts off the water when you aren’t using it. Letting the water run continuously can result in up to 100 gallons of water being wasted.
5. Run Your Dishwasher Only When Full – Although tempting to run it sooner, make sure to only run your dishwasher when it’s completely full. By doing this, you can save up to 1,000 gallons of water per month. This is a huge savings in both cost and in water availability.
6. Shorten Your Shower By A Minute – It might not seem like much, but shortening your shower by a minute or two can lead to a water savings of 150 gallons per month. This is a very easy way to conserve water without feeling any effects of your efforts and gives you more time to get ready in the mornings!
Whether you plan on employing one of these tips or are going to dive into all of them at once, water conservation is an important part of preserving our Earth’s natural resources. Not only will you save money by reducing your water bills, you’ll be saving water that is in extremely short supply for everyone.