Five Simple Ways to Save Water

According to the 2015 United Nations World Water Development Report the planet is facing a 40% shortfall in water supply by 2030, unless we dramatically improve the management of this precious resource. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to take cold showers or stop washing your clothes, but by making simple changes to your daily routine, you'll not only save water, but money too.

Turn off the tap

It's an obvious one, but just by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the morning and before bedtime, you can save up to 30 litres of water per day. Plus, don't forget to make sure it's turned tight – a dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water a day or 5,500 litres a year – yikes!

Choose a shower over a bath

Taking a shower uses much less water than filling up a bath. A shower only uses around 35 to 95 litres, while a bath takes up to 265! And to save even more water, try keeping your shower under five minutes long – you could try timing yourself with a clock (or a song).

Check out this shower that kicks you out if you're wasting water.

Ditch the garden hose

Washing your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a hose saves a lot of water. A hose can waste 22 litres per minute if you leave it running, but using a bucket and sponge only uses a few litres. And if you prefer to use a car wash, then great because a typical car wash usually uses less than half the amount of water you would use to do it yourself.

Be smart with drinking

Try filling a jug with tap water and placing it in your fridge. This will mean you don't have to leave the cold tap running for the water to run cold before you fill your drinking glass. You could also designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.

Think before you wash

If you've only got a couple of items to wash, then try not to run a complete wash cycle – you'll use far more water than you need. On average a washing machine uses around 150 litres of water per cycle. If you desperately need a few items to clean, check if your washing machine has a half-load or similar washing setting to save on water.

Tweet us to let us know how many of these simple changes you can make today!?

All images: Shutterstock

Jessica is an editor and writer with an interest in wellness, culture and nature. She thinks this beautiful world we live in deserves our protection. Making change to reduce her own carbon footprint, she hopes to encourage others to do the same.

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