You wouldn’t be the first person to take running water for granted. Wasting water is unfortunately a very common habit among Americans. But just because so many people do it, doesn’t mean it’s not a problem. Water conservation matters — and as long as you are mindful about changing your habits in small but effective ways, you can make a huge difference without changing your lifestyle too radically. It’s good for your wallet and it’s good for the planet too!
Why Does Water Conservation Matter?
First, let’s establish why water conservation is so important. To start with, water can be expensive! If you’re somebody who wastes a lot of water, then your monthly water bill is a lot higher than it needs to be. Reducing your water consumption should be as much a goal as reducing your energy consumption or your gas consumption. In the end, it means some extra dollars you get to keep every month.
But wasting water isn’t just a financial issue — it’s an environmental one. Even though you might have heard that most of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, that doesn’t mean all of it is drinkable. Therefore, it’s on us to take care with the fresh water we have available to us.
In the United States, the average person uses an estimated 1,550 cubic meters of water on an annual basis. That’s more than any other country! It’s especially troubling when we think about how the U.S. population has doubled in the past 50 years but the use of water has tripled — indicating that our population is using increasingly more water. And according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), water managers in 40 out of 50 states believe they will see some kind of water shortage within the next 10 years.
How Can I Be Better About Conserving Water?
Even if we all acknowledge that conserving water is important, we might not know where to start when it comes to cutting back on our use. After all, the way we use water seems so normal to us. But here are simple ways you can change the way you’re doing things:
Set a brick in your toilet tank to occupy some extra room. So much water gets wasted from flushing toilets. The average American flushes about 20 gallons a day. But if you use a brick to take up extra space in your toilet tank, that’s less water that’s going to go into your toilet — and less water that’s ultimately going to be flushed.
Be conscious of the way you do laundry. Only run a cycle if you have a full load, never for only one or two items. And if you have a smaller load of laundry, be sure to adjust your water settings to match. Washing a smaller load with the washer set for a large load isn’t necessary. And on the subject of laundry: If you are replacing your machine, opt for a front-load washer, which will typically use less water than a top-load washer.
If you take pride in your yard (and who doesn’t?), you can still have a vibrant, green lawn and lush, beautiful flowers without overwatering them. If you have your sprinkler on a daily timer, be conscious of days when it is going to rain so you can turn the sprinkler off. Water your plants at a cooler time of the day, such as early in the morning or at night, so the water isn’t evaporated by the hot sun. You can even install a rain barrel in your yard to collect stormwater and use it for outdoor watering instead of using your hose.
You might think that you’re being environmentally friendly by washing your dishes by hand, but you’d be surprised how much water it takes to wash a sink full of dishes. As long as you are running a fully loaded dishwasher, the machine is the better option when it comes to conserving water. This will save you an estimated 1,600 gallons of water over the lifetime of your dishwasher.
When it comes to washing up, a long soak in the tub might feel relaxing, but it uses a lot of water. Save baths for when you need a special indulgence and instead choose a shower as part of your daily routine. Additionally, installing a low-flow showerhead — which aerates the water — can save you 15 gallons of water for a 10-minute shower. That will definitely add up over time!
Got frozen food that needs to defrost before cooking it? Although letting warm water run over it is a quick defrost option, it’s very wasteful. Transfer the frozen food to the fridge the night before for the same successful thaw without all the water use.
Finally, pay attention to all the times you let the water run when you aren’t using it. Maybe it’s when you’re brushing your teeth or washing your face. Maybe it’s when you’re working in the kitchen. If you aren’t using the water, even if it’s only for a few seconds, turn the faucet off. It’s just as easy to turn it back on when you need it again.