Common Ways You Might Be Wasting Water In Your Home

Although most of the earth is covered in water, only 1% of it is freshwater that is suitable for drinking and carrying other domestic chores. The remaining 99% is ice, salty seawater, or simply not suitable for domestic use. This means conserving freshwater is essential.

An average human uses 30 gallons of water every day, leaving a lot of room for improvement. Doing so is not even difficult. Many activities wastewater even without our realization. Small changes like replacing dripping faucets, taking short showers, and closing the taps while brushing your teeth can make a huge difference.

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Small careful acts will not only help you conserve water for coming generations but also decrease your water bills significantly. The article below explains some actions contributing to water wastage in your household.

Using Your Toilet As A Trash Can

Utilizing almost a third of the total water consumption, toilets are the biggest source of water use in a household. Whenever you flush a facial tissue or any feminine hygiene product, you waste five to seven gallons of water. It is better to dispose of these and other similar materials in a trash can instead of flushing them.

Moreover, flushing anything except human waste and toilet tissues is bad for your pipes and drainage system. Surely a clogged drain is the last thing you want to deal with.

Taking Frequent And Long Showers

The required amount of showers for human beings is after every two days. If you are taking showers than this, you are wasting water. An average 8-minute shower takes 17.2 gallons; this is a lot of water. Thus, taking long and frequent showers directly translates into wasting a significant amount of water without even realizing it. Hence, cut your shower time and safe water.

Leaky Pipes

A very obvious and often overlooked reason for water wastage is the leaky pipes and faucets. Mostly the pipes are located in places where it is difficult to notice leaks or simply you just don’t pay enough attention to it. This can result in wasting several gallons of water.

Silent leaks can not only waste water and increase your water bills; these can also damage your property. Water stains on the walls, rusted pipes, and other similar damage can cost a lot to repair.

So, if you hear the sound of water running even when not in use, sometimes dripping water sounds in a quiet environment can be a sign of an internal leak. If you notice any of these or similar signs, call a professional plumber and get your pipes repaired or replaced.

Half Filled Laundry Loads

Washing only a shirt or a single dress in one go wastes a lot of water, detergent, and electricity. Therefore, always try that the laundry loads are pretty full when you run the machine to full. This simple change can save gallons of water.

Running Half-filled Dishwashers

Another place where most of us wastewater without even realizing it is when we run a half-filled dishwasher. So, make sure your dishwasher is filled before running it. Moreover, you should consider running a dishwasher on a light cycle instead of the normal cycle; this will save a lot of water.

Washing Dishes With Running Water

If you wash dishes manually, there are chances you waste more water compared to running a half-filled dishwasher. To save water, fill your sink with soap and water and soak the dishes for some time. After that, go ahead and wash your dishes; this will save time, energy, and water all in one go.

Conventional Toilets

If you have old toilets silent leaks, low flush efficiency is inevitable. Old toilets use two extra water gallons every flush as compared to new low flush and high-efficiency toilets.

Overwatering Your Lawn

Being a nature lover, you like to spend time watering your plants; unknowingly, this habit is costing you and the planet heavily by the amount of water wasted. Lawn plants don’t require watering more than twice a week. Otherwise, you are wasting water.

The best time to water your garden in summer is morning; at this time, the air is colder, and water evaporates slowly.

Down The Drain Water

One of the most common ways to wastewater is by leaving the water running while brushing your teeth, shaving, or doing water. Turn off the faucet as soon as you start brushing your teeth or shaving. For rinsing your face simply keep a glass of water in hand instead of doing it directly from the faucet.

Conclusion

Water is an abundant yet scarce natural resource. Conserving freshwater is essential for its continuous supply for coming generations. Changing minor household habits that lead to water wastage can help save a lot of water. Your efforts may seem like a drop in the bucket, but small collective blocks can reserve our earth and its resources.