What are You Doing Right Now to Save Water?
Ever
travel to a location where there was barely enough water for drinking,
cooking or bathing?
Usually, we don’t appreciate water until our supply
is threated through of a drought or a disaster. In these situations,
when people are forced to watch their water consumption, a simple glass
of ice water becomes a luxury. You know we are approaching or are
already in a drought when restaurants tell their diners that they will
receive water only if they request it.
Are You Doing Your Part to Save Precious Water?
As a society, we always think of water as something that will always
be available. If we put some effort into conserving water, we wouldn’t
suffer from a scare at the sign of a drought.
In the spring of 2011, Governor Jerry Brown of California announced
that the drought was officially over. Not so. By December, California
experienced one of the driest winters in years. No one can predict
drought. It would be like trying to predict the weather. Although the
state has had a few storms and snow in the foothills, there is no
guarantee that residents will not be experiencing drought in 2012.
If people decided to get serious about saving water, the better off
we will be. Whether the water supply is abundant or scarce, citizens
need to get in the practice of saving water. The price of water will do
nothing but go up, so you must be careful when you choose your home’s
landscaping. If you’ve ever seen someone’s elaborate landscaping
project, remind yourself that every plant, shrub and tree needs
watering. The constant use of water quickly adds up. Two acres of rose
garden could be a hit with the garden club, but let’s be realistic. A
lot of water is used on these roses.
Always Check for Leaks
You’d be surprised how much water is lost by leaking faucets, pipes,
toilets, and showerheads. A worn toilet flapper in your toilet tank is
also considered a leak, and it usually is undetected. But once
discovered, a toilet flapper can be easily purchased and replaced. You
don’t need skills to install a new toilet flapper.
If your home is on a water meter, locate it. When checking for leaks,
you need to turn off the water in your home. Once the water is turned
off, and the meter’s dial continues to move, this indicates that there
is a leak somewhere inside or outside your home.
Upgrade Certain Items
Replace your washer with a new, high-efficiency washer. This washer
reduces water, energy and the amount of detergent needed for getting
your loads of laundry clean.
Replace your old showerhead with a low-flow showerhead to save you from wasting water.
If you have an older home, replace the toilet for a newer model that uses much less water.
Install aerators on all indoor faucets to help reduce the waste of water.
Hints for the Yard
A lush, green lawn is a waste of water and fertilizer. Try replacing
your lawn with a selection of plants that don’t require much water. Or
incorporate plants and hard landscaping to reduce the size of the lawn.
If you must have a lawn, water early in the morning or late at night. Soak the lawn instead of sprinkling it.
Use only enough water for the garden and watch your water usage.
Rake leaves and sweep dirt. Do not waste water by using it to move leaves and dirt.
Check for broken sprinklers or adjust them so that water doesn’t get
wasted on sidewalks and streets.
Whenever we are out and about, we see
this all of the time. Watering pavement and asphalt is a waste of water,
and when it’s done by a broken sprinkle, the water wasted can go
undetected for weeks.
Wash your vehicles at the local car wash or auto detailers. Water
gets recycled at the car wash. When you wash your vehicle at your home,
you cannot control running water from a garden hose. If you’ve ever
washed your vehicle at home, how many times have you left the garden
hose on the lawn and left the water running? With many car owners, it’s
habit.
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