Did you know that although 70 percent of planet Earth is covered with water, only 1 percent of it is available for human consumption? Our surging population is leaving our lakes, rivers and aquifers struggling to meet this growing demand for fresh water.
In fact, water demand is expected to climb 50 percent from 2007 to 2025. What can you do to reduce your personal water demand and help conserve this vital natural resource? Here are five different ways you start by just turning off the tap.
1. Save water while brushing your teeth
Why not maintain a beautiful, healthy smile and conserve water at the same time? While you brush your teeth, turn off that tap to save up to 200 gallons of water per month.
2. Save water while washing your hands
The average American washes his or her hands nearly 9 times per day. If you follow guidelines to scrub your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, you could save at least 6 gallons per day by turning off the tap while you scrub.
3. Save water while washing dishes
An energy-efficient dishwasher typically uses as little as 4 gallons of water per cycle, whereas hand washing can use up to 20 gallons. Just make sure you only run the dishwasher when it is full. Don’t have a dishwasher? Scrape your dirty dishes into the trash, fill up your sink with water, and wash the dishes all at once instead of washing dishes one-by-one under constantly flowing water.
4. Save water while cooking
Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of a running faucet. Defrost food in the fridge instead of using water. When boiling food, use just enough water to cover food. *Tip: Using less water when boiling vegetables will also preserve flavor and nutrients.
5. Save water while taking a shower
A bath typically uses up to 30 gallons of water, whereas a five-minute shower will use only 10-25 gallons depending on the efficiency of showerhead. So opt for a shower to save water.
