We recently gave you tips on how to save energy and reduce your electricity bill but you know we won’t stop there. Here in America Top 10, we truly are all about going green but we also care about the “blue”. So, now, we move to teaching you how to conserve water and save on your water bill. The primary focus is, of course, water conservation. Every benefit we get after saving water, such as cutting down on your water bill, is just a bonus. Not a lot of people are oblivious to the scarcity of this natural resource anyway. A lot of efforts have also been promoted these past few years as well. However, you shouldn’t just sit back and watch. Do your part too.
Why It Matters
With more and more areas struggling with droughts, conserving water is more important than ever. Some might think that they don’t need to because they don’t live in those areas or countries. However, even if you’re not living in a drought-stricken region, cutting back on water use also means a lower utility bill. What’s more important is that doing so will also conserve a precious resource.
Simple Steps
There are lots of big and small ways to conserve water around the home. Don’t worry, if you can’t do everything on this list, just pick a few things to start with. Eventually, you’ll realize that it’s so easy to do and you’ll be doing more as you can. Some of these tips are actually things you already know by heart but you keep forgetting. To keep you from drifting from the goal, get the whole family involved.
In The Bathroom
- Turning the water off when brushing your teeth can save a lot of water. In fact, as much as 160 gallons of water can be conserved each month when you turn the water off. We also suggest using and limiting your water use for this task to less than one cup or glass.
- Instead of letting the water pour down the drain, place a bucket under the shower head while you wait for your the water to heat up. You can use the water for flushing the toilet or watering your plants.
- You can save extra water by not flushing certain objects down the toilet. These items includes toilet paper, cigarette butts, and even sanitary napkins. Using this method to eliminate these items will cost you an additional 5 to 6 gallons of water per flush.
- Take less time showering. A simple tip and very easy to do. Also, do note that older shower heads can use as much as 5 gallons of water per minute. Speed things up in the shower for some serious water savings.
In The Kitchen
- As much as possible, do not use water to defrost or thaw food. Although many people do use this method, it requires a lot of water consumption. If you should, thaw frozen food using water collected in one big basin (rather than thawing with running water).
- This might sound silly but you can re-use your pasta cooking liquid. Instead of dumping that water down the drain, try draining your pasta water into a large pot. Once it cools, you can use it to water your plants.
- Whenever you are washing your dishes without using the dishwasher, do not leave the water running to rinse.
- Using the right size of pans when cooking is also another way to save on water (and cooking time!).
Other Areas
- Always check for leaks in toilets and the sinks. Even a small leak could cause an extensive amount of extra water usage and more money added to the water bill.
- Minimize the amount of time spent watering the lawn. Ensure that you are watering it only when needed. Or better yet, invest on rainwater harvesting which is a great way to keep your plants hydrated without turning on the hose or sprinkler.
- Cut off the water supply to any areas in the home that you are not using. These areas include currently unoccupied guest bathrooms or restrooms.
- Instead of using the water hose, use brooms or other tools to clean gutters.
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