We are all aware that water in Australia is a precious resource. In a country that often experiences long periods of drought, it’s vital that we all do our part and find ways to save water on a consistent basis all year round, drought or no drought. Another key reason why you’ll want to save water and cut back on water use is you’ll lower your water bills considerably. So, saving both money and the planet are two positives to come out of conserving water.
Let’s take a look at some ways you can conserve water in your home, so you’re doing your part for the environment, as well as your bank balance.
Install a Water Tank
If you are serious about conserving this precious resource, then one sure way you can contribute a lot is by having a rainwater tank installed outside your house. While you might not use this water for drinking purposes, the rainwater you collect in the tank can be put to good use in so many other ways.
For starters, rather than wasting town water on watering the plants, gardens and lawn, you can use the tank water for this purpose. The same applies when you are washing the car. Install a pump on the rainwater tank for increased water pressure when you attach a hose to it.
Stored rainwater could also be used for outdoor cleaning, topping up the swimming pool, flushing toilets and more. A rainwater tank is a sound investment.
Fix Leaking Taps, Toilets and Pipes
One thing you’ll definitely want to do is repair any leaking taps, toilets or pipes in and around your house. These slow leaks or drips can really add up to a lot of wasted water (and money) over time. A dripping tap in the kitchen sink may not look like it’s wasting much water, but if you were to collect this water over a period of a month, you’d be surprised just how much it ends up being.
Leaking toilets not only waste valuable water. They also lead to inefficient flushing which, in turn, could lead to a blocked toilet problem. Not something you want to experience.
Leaking pipes, whether inside the home or outside somewhere in the yard, are not only a waste of water, they can lead to causing expensive damage to your home or yard.
If you have any water leaks of any kind, it’ll be time to call in a plumber to fix them. It will save you money in the long run.
Turn Off the Tap While Brushing Your Teeth Or Shaving
One area where water gets wasted unnecessarily is when brushing your teeth or shaving. The tap doesn’t need to be left on the entire time either of these two simple chores are taking place. Only turn on the tap when rinsing. The rest of the time it can be left off, saving litres of water every time you brush or shave.
Reduce the Amount Of Time Spent In the Shower
Showers consume loads of water. Even just one person showering each day will take a lot of water, let alone a house full of people who may be taking more than one shower each on a daily basis. For this reason, you’ll want to place a limit on the amount of time spent in the shower if you’re to make a concerted effort to conserve water in your home.
Buy a simple 5-minute egg timer. This is an easy way to keep tabs on how much time is actually spent when showering, and showers can be limited to 5 minutes only. Cut back on shower time and you’ll save significant cash on those water bills.
Install Toilet Systems With a Half Flush Option
Toilets don’t always require a full flush the majority of the time, so if your toilet system is not equipped with a button that offers the half flush option, then it might be a good idea to upgrade to a system that does.
You’ll be surprised how much water this saves over a long period of time, so it’s well worth considering if you don’t already have dual flush systems installed in your home.
Water-Saving Shower Heads Do Conserve Water
The idea of a showerhead that saves water, is to restrict the amount of water being used, while at the same time being designed in such a way that there’s still sufficient water pressure to provide a satisfying shower.
You could purchase and install these showerheads yourself, but it might be wiser to get the help of a plumber when both choosing the best shower heads and having them installed in your home.
If you want to take things a step further, you can also have water-saving devices attached to all the taps in the home as well.
Never Water the Gardens Or Lawn In the Middle Of the Day
The best times of the day to do some watering and get maximum value for your gardens and lawn is either very early in the morning, or when the sun is setting late in the afternoon. It’s a pointless exercise to do watering in the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest.
Don’t Overuse the Dishwasher
Dishwashers often consume a lot of water, so only turn it on when you have a full load to wash. If you use it every single day, you’ll be consuming way more water than is necessary. Dishwashers are handy, but overuse of them is not recommended.
The same could be said for washing clothes in the washing machine. Save it for when you have a full load to do.
In Conclusion
There are numerous ways you can do your part for the environment and save precious water. It’s simply a matter of putting some thought into it and being diligent and consistent about it. Every drop saved counts and it all adds up.
Original article by Refined Plumbing Sunshine Coast
