8 Ways to Support Water Conservation
Water shortages have started to become more common across the country, however, the good news is that there are some things you can do in order to help conserve this important resource. No matter which type of climate you live in, or which type of water service your home receives, you can take advantage of several different methods of saving water. By conserving this essential element, you can help make a difference in the consumption level that your family uses. As more people learn about the importance of conservation, the world can continue to enjoy fresh and clean water.
1. Buy Water Conserving Appliances
One of the biggest impacts you can make on your water usage is through your home’s appliances. It’s important to examine each appliance you own that uses water, and then consider replacing it if it’s not using water efficiently. Each year, new water-efficient models of dishwashers, washing machines, toilets, and bathroom fixtures are released that help consumers reduce their water usage at home. What’s even better is that you may be eligible to save money with rebates on these products after purchase.
2. Practice Home Water-Saving Habits
Another big thing you can do at home is to try to adapt habits that help save water. When you’re brushing your teeth, make sure you don’t leave the faucet running. If you’re taking a shower or bath, try to limit the amount of water you use or the time in the shower. In the kitchen, only run the dishwasher when it’s full. Instead of getting the watering can out for your houseplants, try using ice cubes, which can slowly absorb in to the soil, in order to make the most of your water.
3. Change Your Landscaping Design
The fact is that a fresh, green lawn can often require an extreme amount of water in order to maintain it. If you live in a climate that is not especially rainy, it can take even more water resources to keep your lawn beautiful. What you can do instead is to plant items that are native to the area or that don’t require extra watering other than your area’s typical rainfall. Using practices like mulching, fertilizing, pruning, and pest management can help your outdoor garden landscape continue to maintain beauty.
4. Promote Rainwater Harvesting
One exciting way to help conserve this limited resource is through a practice called rainwater harvesting. You can help promote this practice by developing your own way to harvest rainwater. First, you must have a collection area for the rain, and then you must develop a method of converting it into usable water. For most homeowners, it can be easy to collect rainwater in a rain barrel and reuse the water for outdoor planting purposes. For harvesting drinking water, a more sophisticated setup is typically required.
5. Support Sustainable Water Sources
Many locales across the country are investigating new ways to create a more sustainable water source for public use. Towns are designing new and innovative ways to get back to the higher levels of municipal water that were prevalent in the past. You can help by offering your support to these organizations and spreading the word about their importance. Projects like the Cadiz Water Project are offering communities ways to reclaim groundwater that has been lost to the effects of desert evaporation.
6. Model Conservation to Kids
The next generation is the one that is going to continue to fight this uphill battle of making sure there is enough water to go around for all. You can help prepare these future generations by modeling responsible water usage to your children and to their friends. Letting them know the importance of saving water can help them develop good water usage habits and lead to their further conservation efforts. You can discourage children from playing in front of the sink for a long period of time, leaving the water on while brushing teeth, and taking long showers.
7. Buy From Responsible Farmers
You can also assist this movement by ensuring that you purchase your produce solely from responsible, local farmers. Spend time finding out about your local farmer’s markets and farming co-ops. Find out about your local farmer’s water usage and irrigation practices. Learn about what fruits and vegetables are in season. Make it a point to only buy items that are in season in order to avoid the factory farming waste of water and other resources.
8. Report Wasteful Organizations
The final thing you can do to help keep this vital element available to all is to report companies or individuals that are being wasteful. Research the various organizations in your community and learn about what practices they are establishing in order to promote water conservation. If you spot something wasteful, report it to the local authorities or your town’s officials.
Saving water is something that every citizen should be attempting to take ownership of. This is a vital aspect of all people’s lives, and it’s important to do your part to make sure its availability is not threatened in the near future. While world population continues to explode, it’s responsible to look for ways to reduce your water usage footprint.
