Saving Water Lifestyle - Numbers Don’t Lie

If you are one of those people that think that you can’t make a smudge of a different by conserving water, you are wrong! By implementing water-effective rules in your home and daily lives you can save thousands of gallons of water a year! When it comes to saving water, numbers don’t lie and you will be pleasantly surprised at the difference you can make! 

Some examples of the number of gallons you can save in a year include:

577 Gallons- Filling your own water bottle can save 577 gallons of water a year instead of purchasing a 1l bottle each day.

2,880 Gallons- You waste 2,880 gallons of water a year just by not turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth. Wet your toothbrush, turn the faucet off and brush. You can save even more water by pre-filling a cup of water for rinsing your mouth.

600 Gallons- Using recycled-paper items means that less water is used to manufacture the product. You can save over 600 gallons of water a year by choosing 100% recycled-paper product such as paper towels. 

4,500 Gallons- Five minute showers with a low-flow shower head can save you over 4,500 gallons of water. If you shut the water off while you lather, you can save even more! Your short five minute showers will also save you in energy bills because you won’t need to heat the water for a long period of time.

1,800 Gallons- You can save up to 150 gallons a month by shutting off the water while you scrub your hair. 

4,500 Gallons- You can save over 4500 gallons of water a year by watering your lawn early in the morning or evening. If you water your lawn during the day, the water will evaporate faster and your lawn will get dry.

12,500 Gallons- Using a hose to water the lawn can save you 12,500 gallons of water a year. You can direct the water in the right direction that even the smartest sprinklers can’t do. A little fresh air will also do the body some good. If you lack Vitamin D the time you spend outside watering your lawn will help you improve that. 

2,800 Gallons- Using the light-wash setting on the dishwasher can save you up to 2,800 gallons of water in one year. You will still get the same cleaning power as you would get on normal settings and your dishes will finish washing sooner. 

1,000 Gallons- Installing an aerator on your sinks can save you 1,000 gallons of water a year. Aerators are extremely cheap, coasting only a few dollars, if that. 

550 Gallons- If you choose to plant low-water use plants in your garden, you can save up to 550 gallons of water a year.

Numbers do not lie! By just implementing a handful of these rules in your life you can save thousands of gallons of water. 

Green, Water-Friendly Landscaping

If you finally started to think cautiously about your water consumptions and want to know how you can do more, look at your yard. You can do so many things in your yard that can help you save thousands of gallons of water a year. 

Don’t Use a Water Hose to Clean Your Gutters- Use a leaf blower or your hands to clean the gutters. 

Use Drought-Resistant Seeds- If you are looking to plant new grass seeds in your yard or around your home, use drought-resistant seeds instead. These seeds will need 70% less water, can grow in shaded areas, and can even prevent grubs from eating your lawn. 

Water Your Grass Early in the Morning- If you water your grass during the days when it’s the hottest, your water will evaporate sooner and your ground will be dry. Instead, water your lawn early in the morning or late in the evening and saturate the ground. 

Don’t Over-Water Your Lawn- If you don’t have drought-resistant or water-friendly lawn, you can still prevent overwatering. If you step on your lawn and it springs back up, it does not need to be watered. If the grass lies flat, it could use some water. Also, let your grass grow up to 3 inches which can help preserve water in the soil.

Use a Water Hose not Sprinklers- Even the most high-tech sprinklers can miss sports so use a hose instead. You will be able to direct the water where it’s needed and you’ll get some much needed fresh air doing it. 

Use Mulch In Your Yard- Placing mulch around your plants and trees can help weeds from growing and it can also prevent water from evaporating. This will mean that you don’t have to water your garden and plants as much. There are numerous of different mulch options available including straw mulch, seaweed mulch, bark, or you can use shredded newspaper. 

Use a Broom to Clean Your Driveway- A lot of people use their water hose to clean their driveway from leaves, dirt, or dust. This is just one way we are wasting water for a poor reason. Instead of watering your driveway, grab a broom or a leaf blower. 

Use Rain Water to Water Plants -If you have a vegetable garden or various plants around your house or on the deck, use rain water to water them. Place a large barrel outside your home and collect the rain. Once your barrel is full enough use is to water your plants instead of turning on the hose. Why use something you have to pay for when you can use water that is natural, free, and falls from the sky?

There are so many ways in which we can save water not only inside our homes but outside as well. You can also use waterless car wash products or rain water to wash your car. Every drop of water that you don’t use helps save you on your water bill and your community. 

How to Preserve Water at Home

Water is something that we take for granted, not knowing or understanding just how precious it really is. Over the years water conservation has managed to grasp more attention due to the visible climate changes that are occurring around the world and water pollution. Water conservation not only helps you save on your water bill but it can also help prevent water pollutions in the rivers and lakes which can affect wildlife. If you are finally ready to start listening and doing your part to save our water, there are numerous ways for you to start. 

The first place you can start with conserving water is your home. Some ways you can help preserve water in your home include: 

Turn faucet off while brushing your teeth- There is no need for the gallons of water to seep through your pipes while you are brushing your teeth. 

Flush when needed- Do not use your toilet to flush away bugs, cigarette buds, hair or other items other then what it is intended for. This can save you five to seven gallon of water on each flush.

Install water-saving shower head - Low-flow shower head means that you will use less than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Another way to save water is it to shut the water off when you are shampooing your hair and scrubbing. Install high-efficiency toilets- A toilet that used less water can save you .5 to 5 gallons on every flush. If you don’t have the money to replace your toilet, use two water bottles, fill them two inches with rocks or sand and the rest with water, and place them safely inside your toilet tank. This can help you save ten or more gallons of water a day. 

Use your dishwasher on full loads- Wash your dishes only when the dishwasher is full to help save water and if you are looking for a new dishwasher make sure it is water-efficient. Do not rinse your dishes if you are using the dishwasher since this can help you save over 20 gallons of water. If you don’t have a dishwasher and wash dishes by hand, put in a faucet aerator which is cheap and easy to install. Also, turn the water off when you are scrubbing the dishes and only use it to rinse off your dishes. 

Don’t use the sink garbage disposal-Your sink garbage disposal needs a lot of water to flush away the waste. Instead clean your sink after each use and throw away the waste in the garbage. If you have the room and time, create a compost to help dispose of your vegetable scraps. 

Use your washing machine for full loads- Don’t run your machine on small loads instead, use them on full loads. This will also save you time since you will be doing one load instead of multiple ones. If you have delicate shirts or items that you don’t want to put in the machine hand wash them instead. If your washer is old, consider purchasing a new one that is energy efficient and can save you up to 50% on water and energy.

There are numerous of ways we can save water and decrease our water intake. If you are implementing a change make sure that your family follows the rules as well. Sit down and have a discussion on how water is important and how they can help you cut down on your water use. By implementing the above rules, you will not only save on your own water bill but you will be helping the community as well.