Water is essential to our daily lives. Whenever it is used, there is a potential for water conservation both inside and outside of your home. It is important to remember that care in our water use habits should not only be taken in times of water shortage.Sensible water use can reduce the amount of stress that is placed on our resources, both by limiting water withdrawals and bydecreasing wastewater distribution. Conserving water reduces wear and tear on major resources such as water and wastewater treatment plants and the distribution systems that deliver water to the public. Using less water can also enable us to becomemore flexible during times when there is a water shortage. Here are some helpful tips for water conservation.•Install aerator attachments on sink faucets. These are known to reduce water use by 25%.•Replace or adapt older, less water efficient fixtures or appliances. A lot of innovative water saving devices are available on themarket that can reduce water use by up to 40%.•Take shorter showers. Replace your showerhead with a water saving device such as an ultra-low-flowversion. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water tempera-ture. Showers can also be equipped with shut-off valves that allow a person to stop water flow whilesoaping and shampooing.•When bathing, be careful not to overfill the tub. A 1/4 full tub is usually sufficient.•Don’t let water run while shaving, washing your face or brushing your teeth.•Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet. Theaverage person uses well over 100 litres of water per day just by flushing the toilet, which accounts for 45% of a person’s totalindoor water use.•When replacing a toilet, consider a low-flush toilet that uses a smaller water tank. Or you can install awater saving device in your present toilet to reduce the amount of water used during a flushing cycle. For more information on water conservation innovations you should consult your local plumbing supply or hardware store.•Operate automatic dishwashers and washing machines only when they are fully loaded. Set the water level for the size of load you are using.•When washing dishes by hand: If you have two sinks, partially fill one with soapy water and the other withrinse water. If you only have one sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or rinse themin a pan full of hot water.•If something requires cleaning fill the sink instead of running a steady stream of water.•When boiling vegetables use just enough water to cover them or consider steaming, which uses less water and also con-serves the natural nutrients.
WATER CONSERVATION
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