One way to conserve water is to limit your water consumption for cleaning purposes. Adjust the amounts of water you use for each task. Consider how you clean your dishes and clothes. Only run a dishwasher when it is completely full. Similarly, only run a washing machine when a full load of clothes is ready to wash. Running such machines when they are full will reduce the amount of times they must be used and will save a significant amount of water in the long run.
Water consumption for bathing purposes also consumes massive amounts of water. To reduce the amount used for such purposes, take showers instead of baths. It is estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that an average bath uses 70 gallons of water while an average shower uses 10 to 25 gallons of water. Assuming you do this once per day, you’d save 16,425 to 21,900 gallons of water per year by opting for showers over baths. For even greater savings, use a low-flow shower head, which uses 1 gallon less per minute than a standard shower head. Simply changing your shower head and avoiding baths will greatly reduce your water consumption.
It is easy to overlook, but there are many wastes of water that occur in the typical household. When brushing your teeth, leave the water off. The average bathroom faucet uses 2 gallons of water per minute, which is being entirely wasted if it is left on. Also, have any leaks repaired. A leaky faucet that drips at a rate of one drop per second can leak up to 3,000 gallons of water each year. Similarly, a leaky toilet can leak up to 730,000 gallons of water each year. That would fill an Olympic-size swimming pool with 70,000 gallons left to spare!
The outside of your home is also a potential source of wasted water. If you have a lawn or garden to maintain, consider using a drip irrigation system. Such systems consume 20 to 50 percent less water than standard systems, as no water is lost due to evaporation, wind, or runoff. Also, account for rain when deciding how often to water. If it rains, let that be a natural source of water that offsets the water that your sprinkler system would otherwise waste. As always, follow the recommended watering cycle for the type of lawn or garden that you have.
We all use water for both convenience and survival. However, by conserving water, you will help ensure that there is enough water to go around for all. Furthermore, you will save money on your water bill and contribute to a more sustainable future for the Las Vegas area. Water conservation only requires a few simple changes to your water consumption habits. Doing so turns out to be a good deal for all and helps keep water and money from needlessly going down the drain.
