One Water, One World
The importance of water for life and environment has always been felt even before man appeared on this Planet. For life itself evolved in water and would not have come about, as we know it today, without it. Water is being harvested in India since the ancient period. The need of conservation and management of water was felt even by the people of the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, about 5000 years ago. Water today is getting increasingly scarce with the issue being not really of availability but access. Realizing that water conservation is the need of the hour, here are the few tips to save water
“Many a little, make a mickle”
- • Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
- • Water your garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
- • Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
- • Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.
- • Use taps with foam flow. This will save water up to 1274 litres of water per month.
- • Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.
- • Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
- • Collect water from your roof to water your garden. Install Rain Water Harvesting devices.
- • If your toilet flapper doesn’t close after flushing, replace it.
- • Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.
- • While washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.
“Many a little, make a mickle”
- • Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes almost 9 litres a minute. Rinse out from a tumbler instead.
- • Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 4500 litres a month.
- • Periodically check your pipes and pool for leaks if you have an automatic refilling device.
- • Install water alarm for tanks to prevent excess loss of water.
- • Encourage your friends and neighbours to be part of a water-conscious community.
- • Bathe your pets outdoors in an area in need of water.
- • Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
- • Wash your car with bucket water, wash your car on the grass. This will water the lawn at the same time.
- • Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
- • Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.