Easy ways to conserve water
EASY WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER
We have all developed the bad habit of letting the faucet run while waiting for the shower to warm up, while we brush our teeth, or while waiting for a cold glass of water. Keeping a pitcher of water in the refrigerator or turning the faucet off while we brush our teeth can save several gallons of water each day! It’s simple really! Before you turn on the tap, think of ways in which you can use less water to accomplish the same task.
There is no such thing as a little drip. A leaky faucet with a drip of just 1/16th of an inch in diameter
(about this big –o–) can waste 10 gallons of water every day. You can stop that drip by replacing worn washers or valve seats with the help of your parents.
The silent leak is even worse than a careless hand on the faucet, probably the single greatest water waster in homes. A leak of one gallon every 24 minutes—an average amount—totals to 2.5 gallons per hour or 60 gallons per day! To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food colouring in the tank and wait. If the colour appears in the bowl, then there’s a leak. Often these leaks can be fixed with a few minor adjustments, cleaning calcium deposits from the toilet ball in the tank or by replacing the worn out valves.
Letting the garden hose run faster or longer than necessary while we water the lawn or wash the car often becomes a careless and wasteful habit. A ½ inch garden hose under normal water pressure pours out more than 600 gallons of water per hour and a ¾th inch hose delivers almost 1,900 gallons in the same length of me. If left on overnight, one garden hose can easily waste twice as much water as an average family uses in a month.
We have all seen our neighbours watering their lawn during an afternoon thunder storm. We have all seen the corner business whose automatic sprinkler system consistently over-waters causing sheets of water to flow across sidewalks and parking lots. Be wise, watch the weather and irrigate only during the cooler parts of the day (early morning or late evening). How do you know if your lawn requires water? Try the step test. If you walk across your lawn and the grass does not spring back up, then it’s me to water. Most grass varieties require minimal watering (1/4 - 1/2 inches, once or twice a week). Set a small cup next to your sprinkler to measure the amount your particular sprinkler delivers.
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Proper maintenance is one of the most effec tive water savers. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace. At home, check all water taps, hoses and hose connec tions (even those that connect to dishwashers and washing machines) for leaks. Check the garden hose too- it should be turned off at the faucet, not just at the nozzle.
A quick shower uses around 20-30 gallons less water than a bath. Challenge yourself and your
family members to take a 5 minute shower. Use a kitchen meter to keep track. Install a water-saving
shower head for addi tional savings. Just as it is important to conserve water in our own homes, it is important to help our towns and ci ties save water by teaching others to use water wisely. In agricultural areas, water may be saved by using more effective irrigation methods. In industrial areas,
manufacturers can save water by reusing it and by treating industrial wastes. Cities and towns can save water by elumina ting leaks and installing meters. Waste water can be treated and reused. As children will learn to conserve water at home and in our community, they will help ensure that the water available now con tinues to meet the growing needs of water in the future. If children get started and conserve water today we will meet the growing needs of the future!
Don’t let it run.
We have all developed the bad habit of letting the faucet run while waiting for the shower to warm up, while we brush our teeth, or while waiting for a cold glass of water. Keeping a pitcher of water in the refrigerator or turning the faucet off while we brush our teeth can save several gallons of water each day! It’s simple really! Before you turn on the tap, think of ways in which you can use less water to accomplish the same task.
Fix the drip.
There is no such thing as a little drip. A leaky faucet with a drip of just 1/16th of an inch in diameter
(about this big –o–) can waste 10 gallons of water every day. You can stop that drip by replacing worn washers or valve seats with the help of your parents.
The silent leak is even worse than a careless hand on the faucet, probably the single greatest water waster in homes. A leak of one gallon every 24 minutes—an average amount—totals to 2.5 gallons per hour or 60 gallons per day! To check your toilet for a leak, place a few drops of food colouring in the tank and wait. If the colour appears in the bowl, then there’s a leak. Often these leaks can be fixed with a few minor adjustments, cleaning calcium deposits from the toilet ball in the tank or by replacing the worn out valves.
Close the hose.
Letting the garden hose run faster or longer than necessary while we water the lawn or wash the car often becomes a careless and wasteful habit. A ½ inch garden hose under normal water pressure pours out more than 600 gallons of water per hour and a ¾th inch hose delivers almost 1,900 gallons in the same length of me. If left on overnight, one garden hose can easily waste twice as much water as an average family uses in a month.
Irrigate Wisely.
We have all seen our neighbours watering their lawn during an afternoon thunder storm. We have all seen the corner business whose automatic sprinkler system consistently over-waters causing sheets of water to flow across sidewalks and parking lots. Be wise, watch the weather and irrigate only during the cooler parts of the day (early morning or late evening). How do you know if your lawn requires water? Try the step test. If you walk across your lawn and the grass does not spring back up, then it’s me to water. Most grass varieties require minimal watering (1/4 - 1/2 inches, once or twice a week). Set a small cup next to your sprinkler to measure the amount your particular sprinkler delivers.
Check the plumbing
.
Proper maintenance is one of the most effec tive water savers. Faucet washers are inexpensive and take only a few minutes to replace. At home, check all water taps, hoses and hose connec tions (even those that connect to dishwashers and washing machines) for leaks. Check the garden hose too- it should be turned off at the faucet, not just at the nozzle.
The 5 Minute Challenge
A quick shower uses around 20-30 gallons less water than a bath. Challenge yourself and your
family members to take a 5 minute shower. Use a kitchen meter to keep track. Install a water-saving
shower head for addi tional savings. Just as it is important to conserve water in our own homes, it is important to help our towns and ci ties save water by teaching others to use water wisely. In agricultural areas, water may be saved by using more effective irrigation methods. In industrial areas,
manufacturers can save water by reusing it and by treating industrial wastes. Cities and towns can save water by elumina ting leaks and installing meters. Waste water can be treated and reused. As children will learn to conserve water at home and in our community, they will help ensure that the water available now con tinues to meet the growing needs of water in the future. If children get started and conserve water today we will meet the growing needs of the future!
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