15 Oct Water Usage And Conservation — What’s The Big Idea?
Water is everywhere. We drink it, we use the bathroom, wash our hands, dishes, clothes, you name it — the list goes on. Yet if the element seems so endlessly abundant, then why is a leaky faucet such a big deal, why does water conservation matter? Truth is, water is an extremely limited source. Though our tiny little islands are surrounded by the Pacific, and the earth is made up of more than 70% of water, only about one percent of that water is available for human handling. This month we’re talking about water usage, and how we can do our part in conserving our most precious resource — let’s dive right in!
As previously mentioned, water is huge when it comes to our everyday lives. We literally cannot live without it. The average American uses roughly 600 liters of water per day. The average Australian uses about 470 liters a day, in Italy — 390 liters, Japan — 375, Mexico — 360, Norway — 300, Austria — 230. These numbers are minuscule compared to the entire world’s usage in a single day. At this point you may have some pressing questions like, “what can I do to help?”. Keep reading, we’re getting there.
There are lots of ways we can contribute to cutting back on water, here are a few simple suggestions to get the water conservation ball rolling.
CONSERVE WATER BY FIXING LEAKING PIPES
Sources tell us that more than 10 percent of the average family’s water supply is wasted away by leaks. A leaky faucet that drips at a rate of one drip per second can waste over 3,000 gallons in a single year. The leaks don’t lie, and neither do we. Call us to take care of those leaking pipes around your home. Not only will you be doing yourself a favor on your water bill, you can put your mind at ease knowing you’re doing your part to conserve our planet’s most precious resource.
SHOWER SMARTER TO SAVE WATER
Start saving by breaking bad habits. Showering uses an estimated 17% of household indoor water use accounting for about 40 gallons a day for the average family of four. To save water, replace regular water heads, which can use up to 2½ gallons a minute, with a WaterSense-certified showerhead, which uses 2 gallons a minute or less while offering the same or better shower performance. Take the water conservation further by taking shorter showers. Instead of running water needlessly, turn the faucet off when you’re soaping, scrubbing and sudsing, and save the water for rinsing.
MONITOR YOUR WATER USAGE
We’re not asking you to completely stop watering your lawns, or to keep your clothes smelly. We can only suggest keeping a close watch on your water usage patterns and adjusting them if you feel they’ve become wasteful or unnecessary. For example, hand watering vs. utilizing automatic irrigation systems can save households 33% of water outdoors. Even small changes can have a huge impact in the long run!
Ultimately, we are all connected by the water that surrounds us. Everyone can, and should, do their part to conserve water. Here at 535 Plumbing we understand that we’re all in this together and go beyond the call to make sure our customers are well cared for. Getting ahead on your plumbing and eliminating leaks will help to save water, time and money. What are you waiting for?