Ways to Conserve Water
Posted in Uncategorized on 02/18/2010 08:00 am by JennYesterday I answered some questions based on the 2010 Social Justice Challenge I am participating in. Here is the list I promised you on Ways to Conserve Water.
*Using Less. D’uh! Using less water means more for later. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth, while shampooing your hair, when washing the dishes (only if you have a double sink).
*Get Energy Efficient. No, you don’t have to go out and get new, expensive washer/dryer righthissecond, but when replacing your old one look for energy ratings and energy efficient models. Not only will that help you to use less water when doing laundry, you will save on your water bill. Many towns/cities/states/provinces have programs to encourage you to get rid of your old stuff by recycling , or offering money back at tax time. Toilets can also be more water-efficient by using less water when you flush. You can do this manually by putting a brick in your tank, or you can buy a toilet that has two flushing options (I’m pretty sure you can guess for what).
*Shop Locally. When you buy local and organic you are helping to save water. Food that has been processed and packaged at factories uses tonnes more water. Packaging something like peaches can use up to 4,800 gallons per ton (Rogers, Peter. America’s Water: Federal Roles and Responsibilities.) whereas the fruit grown locally uses the water for growing the product only. Factories use water for cleaning, sealing, cooling, and cooking.
*Start Drinking Your Tap Water. Cities must ensure that tap water is fit for consumption, so unless you live next to a waste facility, or are the town from Erin Brockovich, you should be good to go. So, you have a Brita Filter instead of using water bottles? So what? That filter needs to be discarded every month or two (depending on use) and it cannot be recycled. Drinking right from your tap eliminates the waste of the filter and packaging.
*Raise Awareness. You don’t have to go crusading for water rights, but start mentioning ways you have cut down on water consumption. Again, this doesn’t have to be directly. Ask your friend to accompany you to the farmer’s market; or mention how much you are saving on your bills and the rebate you got for switching appliances.
*Donate to Charity. There are many charities out there that work with impoverished communities to help them set up infrastructure and agriculture to help them survive. As we know, water is necessary for farming and disease prevention. thewaterproject.org and watercan.com are two charities that strive to bring clean water to poor communities. (Please do more research into the organization you are donating to. These are just two examples I got when searching Google, not charities I endorse).
How do you conserve water?











