How to
Conserve-Water-Wisely

Reduce your water-carbon-footprint at home, and you may find it to be an excellent strategy for lowering your utility bills as well.

Consider how much water we take for granted and waste in the everyday things we do. And then consider that...

90% of our energy costs goes to heating our water.


It would stand to reason, that if you work on using
less water than necessary at home, you are apt to heat
less water as well.

To save more and preserve the hot water that you DO
have, find out how to also maintain your Hot Water Heater
for as long as you can.


Conserve-Water-Wisely In Your Kitchen

When washing dishes by hand, we can use up to 5,000 more
gallons of water per year. I have to admit, I find this
very surprising, but apparently it's very true. I am
thinking of my grandmother who not only reminded us
constantly to turn off the water, but she used so very
little of it herself to wash ALOT of dishes. I know she
was quite convinced that she was saving, not wasting.

If you have a dishwasher though, let it do the work.

Only run it if you have a full load to do. Dishwashers
work best at full capacity.

Skip the "fancy" cycles and the pre-rinse cycles. It
generally isn't needed, and not only wastes water, but
is heating gallons of water for nothing. If you must,
use the pre-rince cycle, but don't run your dishes
through twice.

Pay attention to the Energy Star Label if you are looking
to replace an old dishwasher. An Energy Star appliance
uses approximately 4 gallons of water per load, compared
to the non Energy Star brand which typically use 6 gallons.

Fix drips and leaky faucets as soon as possible. It's
amazing how much this adds up over the course of a year
and wastes. Apparently it's enough to run your dishwasher
through 100 or more cycles, if your tap drips once per
second.

When cooking or boiling water for the kettle, use only
what you need. There is no reason to fill a kettle to
to the top and boil it as well for one cup.

When you need water, get it from the "cold" side, not the
hot.


Conserve-Water-Wisely in the Bathroom

Start taking short showers instead of baths. Have a bath
once in awhile as a treat, and don't fill to the top.

If you have little kids, shower both of them at once.

Install low-flow shower-heads. They use up 60% less water.
They are energy efficient, they conserve, and still produce
the same basic pressure.

Flow-restrictors reduce water consumption considerably.
The great advantage to these is that you can interrupt
the water while you shampoo and lather yourself. You can
resume the water flow at the same rate and temperature
when ready.

Up to 70% of your water usage for the toilet can be saved
with a flush kit, which can replace large volume kits.

A toilet that keeps running after being flushed, can waste up to 200,000 litres in a year. Get this fixed.

Setting a two-litre pop bottle filled with water in your
toilet tank will prevent two litres of water from being
used every time you flush. This is an excellent way to
conserve-water-wisely.

Don't use your toilet as a garbage can. How many of us
are guilty of using a kleenex and throwing it in the toilet
and flushing it? That is what the garbage can is for.

A grey water system which collects soapy water, will divert
to the toilet. Instead of flushing clean water, you are
flushing "used soapy water" and this system can be installed
under your sink .

Teach your children not to run the hot water when standing
at the sink for long periods of time. The same goes for
adults when shaving or washing hair in the sink. Get into
the habit of turning it off when it's not being used.

Water and electrical savings add up when doing your wash
as well. See Laundry Room Tips for conserving there too.

Speaking of laundry? Washers and dryers go hand in hand, and the dryer is a wonderful convenience when needed. But what about the use of clotheslines?

Do you think we should Lift Clothesline Bans everywhere? Many people do. Voice your opinion.





Conserve-Water-Wisely Outdoors

Though it's tempting, sweep your driveway or patio
instead of watering it down. Just like lawns and
gardens, the water just runs off or evaporates very
quickly. We never really need as much as we use.

When you do water the grass, do it early in the
morning and only in the evening. The cool temperatures
will allow the water to seep into the ground.

What about the free water out there that's there for
the taking? Consider Harvesting Rainwater for extra use
around the yard on off-watering days.

If you want to conserve-water-wisely, start by storing
what comes free.

Speaking of "free" or at least using what we have to pay for
already, you should read about the Bottled Water Ban
that a certain group would like to see put into effect.

You could be next on their list to be approached.

We do love our water. For some of us, it's hard to imagine we even need to think of any form of conservation when we are surrounded by it, depending upon where we live.

How it is used plays a big part in reducing our carbon footprint.

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