Certain regions of the US are going through a pretty severe period of drought right now. And even if that wasn’t the case, summer is the time of the year when we all get a little careless with our water consumption. If you want to reduce your environmental impact all year round, here are some great was to save water during summer.
1. Pick the car wash – Nothing wrong with wanting a clean and sparkly car, but you need to be smart when you wash it. Before taking out the buckets and sponges, consider that washing your car by hand uses around three times more water than the automatic wash. Even better, the automatic car wash is quicker and easier too, so it’s a win-win.
2. Pay attention to your toilet – Faulty toilet tanks can silently leak water into the bowl without anyone noticing. To check for this, open the tank and pour a few drops of food coloring in the water. Wait an hour and check the water in the bowl. If it’s dyed, you have a faulty tank and you need to fix it. Never use the toilet as a trash can, tissues, q-tips and every other waste should go to the bin, as they can ruin the pipes.
3. Cut down your showers – Most people know that taking a shower is much more efficient than taking a bath when it comes to water consumption. But did you know that you can save up to 150 gallons of water per month by cutting your showers by only two minutes? Two minutes won’t make a difference for your shower routine, but they sure will make a difference for the planet.
4. Green Laundry – Only wash full loads to avoid water waste and avoid the “permanent press” setting, as it uses more water during the rinse cycle. Check the hose and pipes behind the machine to make sure they are not leaking or about to burst open.
5. Get a reusable water bottle – You probably know that getting a reusable water bottle cuts down waste by reducing the amount of plastic disposable bottles that get thrown away. But did you know that it takes three to five times more water to make a plastic bottle than the amount you are drinking?
6. Smart lawn sprinklers – If you use sprinklers to water your lawn and garden, make sure they are positioned correctly. They should only be watering your grass and plants, not your walls, cobbled path, driveway or sidewalk. Install a rain sensor on your automatic system, as it will detect when it’s raining and shut down. Finally, only water your plants early in the morning or after the sun goes down, so the water doesn’t evaporate as fast and it can be better absorbed.