Water Conservation Tips

Among the many harmful effects of population explosion, scarcity of water is one of the major issues plaguing mankind. Due to overuse and wastage, the ground water level is fast dwindling. Scientists all over the world are concerned about this alarming problem. The other name for water is “life” and if we do not learn to use water judiciously and conserve this precious liquid, life will soon end on our beautiful planet. Some experts have already estimated that if the population increases at the present rate, within 50 years, drinking water will decrease by a staggering 40%. In addition, if we still do not learn to save water, the amount of drinking water will decrease even more rapidly. Many of us wonder why we suffer from water scarcity despite the fact that three fourths of planet Earth is covered by water! Well, the fact is that only a small percentage of water is actually potable and can be consumed by human beings. This potable water is locked in glaciers and ice caps. So it can be easily understood why water should be conserved as much as possible.

• First and foremost, close taps when not in use. Many of us have the habit of keeping taps open while brushing teeth or shaving. On the other hand there are people who leave taps open to fill buckets and then conveniently forget to close the taps. Water keeps on overflowing thus resulting in wastage. Being more responsible is the way to go.
• Avoid washing clothes and utensils in running water. Instead, to save water, fill in a bucket of water and rinse your clothes and utensils in it.
• If you are using a washing machine or dish washer, use them wisely. Wash clothes only when the washing machine is full.
• While watering your plants in your garden using a sprinkler, use them carefully so that you use them only to water the plants and not the walkways.
• Fix all leaky taps. Leaky taps and pipes are some of the main reasons of water wastage. It has been estimated that taps that drip one drop of water per second can add up to 7000 liters of water wastage per year! Now that is a lot of water!
• If you have a garden, use mulch in your plants that will help to lock the water in the soil. Mulching avoids water seepage and helps the plant to retain water for longer periods. This way you have to use less water for watering your plants.
• Water your plants in early morning and late evenings to avoid water loss through evaporation.
• Use a toilet cistern that uses less water.
• While cleaning fish tank, don’t just throw the water down the drain. Instead, use it for other purposes like gardening.
• Conserve and harvest AC water. Collect the water that comes out from the AC outlet and store it in a container. Use it for washing and gardening purposes.
• Avoid washing fruits and vegetables under running water. Instead fill a bowl with water and wash fruits and vegetables in it.
• If your area receives enough rain water, try and adopt rain water harvesting methods.
• Use a sponge and a bucket of water to clean your car instead of a hose pipe.
• Try these methods and you will surely take a step forward to conserve water.