Leaky TapThe first step is to conserving water is to identify where we use water in the home. We can then decide on the best way to reduce the amount of water we use, either by changin gour behaviour to eliminate wasteful household tasks and habits, or by improving the efficiency of our water using fixtures and devices. This is not as hard as you may think. The prime area to target is the bathroom, where nearly 65 percent of all indoor water use occurs.
By following the three rules of water conservation – reduce, repair and retrofit – a typical household can reduce water consumption by 40 percent or more, with or no effect on lifestyle.
Reduce: We waste a lot of water while going about our daily activities. We leave taps running while we brush our teeth. We run our dishwashers and laundry machines without full loads. In fact, almost everywhere we use water there is room for water conservation by reducing our consumption.
Repair: You may not realise but leaks can be costly. A tap leaking only one drop per second wastes about 10,000 litres of water per year. Leaks like this are easy to find and to fix, at very little cost.
Retrofit: By adapting or replacing an older water-using fixture or appliance with one of the many water-efficient devices now on the market - we are retrofitting. While these solutions cost more, they also save the most water and money. Retrofitting offers considerable water saving potential in the home and business. See At Home, Outdoors and At Your Workplace for more examples.
Adapted from Pollution Probe's Drinking Water Primer
Rain BarrelWater conservation means doing the same with less, by using water more efficiently or reducing use where appropriate, in order to protect the resources now, and for the future. Using water wisely reduces pollution and health risks, lowers water costs and extends the useful life of existing supply and waste treatment facilities. It is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to ensure sustainable supplies of fresh water.