March 22 is World Water Day! We don’t have to be in a drought to care about how much water we use. It’s an important resource to conserve throughout the entire year, and doing so can save you money on your monthly water bill.
Here’s what you can do at home this World Water Day, and every day, to conserve water.
In the Bathroom
It’s no surprise to anyone that a lot of water gets used in the bathroom from showers and toilet use. You can’t stop using water to clean up and flush, but you can save hundreds of gallons a year with a few tweaks.
- Turn of the water while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving until you need to rinse.
- Take shorter showers. If you’re getting lost in thought under the water, you’re also using precious gallons of water.
- Collect cold shower water in a bucket while you’re waiting for the water to heat up, and then use that water to flush your toilet later.
- Shower less often when you can — in a hot North Carolina summer, this may not be a good idea but it can be an option the rest of the year. Skipping one shower a week adds up.
- Flush less often. The phrase often used is, “When it’s yellow, let it mellow.” It’s not for everyone, but it does help conserve water. But if it’s a number two situation, go ahead and flush.
- Install water conserving shower heads and faucets. It’s often an easy and inexpensive project.
In the Kitchen
After the bathroom, the kitchen is the next place a lot of water gets used, but there’s room for conservation here, too.
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s full. This goes for the washing machine, too. You’ll run fewer loads over time and will save plenty of water.
- Let the sink fill up completely when you hand wash dishes instead of letting the water run the entire time.
- Reuse your cooking water when you make pasta. Cook your pasta, remove it from the pot, and let the water cool. Once it’s no longer hot, you can water your plants with it.
Other Water Conservation Tips
There are plenty of other ways you can conserve water around your home.
- Repair leaks as soon as possible. Keep an eye on your water bill for major spikes. This will let you know there’s a problem somewhere.
- Replace your plumbing fixtures with more efficient options whenever possible. Look for low-flow toilets and dishwashers and washing machines that are made to be water-efficient.
- Collect rain in rain barrels to water plants.
- Replace water-guzzling plants with succulents and those that need less water.
- Take your car to a car wash that uses recycled water instead of using fresh water.
If everyone takes small steps to conserve water, it can add up to big savings — for your wallet and the water supply. Start on World Water Day and keep it going all year long!