For the love of the earth – save water!

If you’re reading this, you probably have internet which means you are in the top whatever percent of the world and you have a good chance at getting your hands on clean drinking water. Consider this a privilege. How easy it is to forget.

Privilege like this demands responsibility. Whether or not there is a water crisis, we should all be trying to preserve water (for the sake of the environment and our pockets) but now, in South Africa, it’s crunch time.

Below are a list of ways in which you can very practically reduce your water consumption. Obviously we can’t do everything, but browse the lists and see what sticks out to you. Intentional changes become habits and often have huge results.

Reduce water consumption:

1. Turn off the tap while brushing teeth, shaving or soaping hands.
2. Take shorter showers and use less water if you bath.
3. Avoid buying bottled water (as in, don’t create more of a demand).
4. Sweep outside areas instead of hosing with water.
5. Use eco-friendly soaps and cleaning products.
6. Fix leaks at home & report public water leaks to the Municipality.
7. Always use a plugged-sink or bowl instead of a running tap.
8. Insulate hot water pipes to reduce time waiting for water to heat up.
9. Install aerators and flow-reducing valves on your taps.
10. Install water saving devices on taps, toilets, showers & sprinklers.
11. Install a water meter and monitor your use.
12. Install an instant water heater at your taps for immediate hot water.

Car:

1. Wash your car with a bucket and sponge only.
2. Use a hosepipe with a self-closing nozzle to wash your car.
3. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.

Bathroom:

1. Shower instead of bath.
2. Use less water in the bath.
3. Bathe young children together.
4. Flush the toilet only when odours make it necessary.
5. Put a brick in your cistern to reduce.
6. Install a low-flow shower-head.
7. Install aerators and flow-reducing valves on your taps.
8. Install a dual flush mechanism on your toilet.
9. Install a geyser blanket for insulation.
10. Insulate the copper pipes around the geyser.

Laundry:

1. Cut back on washing your towels and linen.
2. Match the size of your laundry load with water volume.
3. Buy an eco-friendly wash ball.
4. Buy a water-efficient washing machine.

Kitchen:

1. Only turn the dishwasher on when it’s full.
2. Use a plugged sink to wash dishes instead of a running tap.
3. Use less dish-washing liquid to reduce the need for rinsing.
4. Use a plugged sink to rinse vegetables instead of a running tap.
5. Use the water you used to rinse fruit and veggies to water plants.
6. Keep a bottle of tap water in the fridge to avoid running the tap until the water is cold.
7. Don’t use running water to defrost food.
8. Install aerators and flow-reducing valves on your taps.
9. Purchase water-efficient appliances and water-saving devices

Plants & Garden:

1. Learn about water-wise gardening.
2. Water plants at the coolest part of the day.
3. Group plants together that have the same water requirements.
4. Water plants with the water you used in the kitchen to rinse fruit and veggies.
5. Choose local indigenous water-wise plants for your home and garden.
6. Adjust sprinklers to water plants and not the pavement.
7. Cover your pool so the water doesn’t evaporate.
8. Check your pool for leaks.
9. Put self-closing spray-nozzles on hosepipes.
10. Use natural and organic garden products.

FORWARD THINKING: Methods to check your home is leak free:

1. Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks. Read the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water has been used. If the water meter doesn’t read exactly the same, then there is a leak.
2. To check for toilet tank leaks, add food coloring to the tank. If the toilet leaks, the toilet bowl will have changed color within 30 minutes.
3. Repair dripping taps by replacing the washer. If a tap is dripping at a rate of 1 drop per second, you could be wasting up to 10,220 Liters per year!
4. If your toilet handle constantly stays in a downward position this means that water is constantly running. Replace or fix the handle to avoid wasted water.
5. Insulate your water pipes. If you do, you’ll get hot water faster, avoid wasting water while it is heating, and also saving money on electricity!

Thanks to: for love of water for the tips and Designzzz (by Serso), www.occupyforanimals.net and Rainbow International LLC for the images.