we\u2019ve all heard it before \u2013 \u201cdon\u2019t run the sink for too long!\u201d or \u201cif you\u2019re not in the shower, turn it off!\u201d the truth is, we\u2019ve all rolled our eyes at our moms for pushing water conservation on us at an early age.<\/p>\n
we thought, \u201cthere\u2019s so much water on this planet, what are you worried about?\u201d<\/p>\n
as it turns out, our moms were right \u2013 as usual.<\/p>\n
while the earth\u2019s surface is covered in around 71% water, only 3% of it is fresh. of course, we have ways of transforming that saltwater into fresh, drinking water \u2013 but it comes at a price.<\/p>\n
let\u2019s look at some benefits of water conservation and some facts, tips and resources you can follow to start saving money \u2013 and maybe the world.<\/p>\n
when it comes to water conservation, the benefits range from small to large and could be reaped by cutting back just a few drops each day. let\u2019s take a look at some of the benefits of conserving water:<\/p>\n
let\u2019s start with a more obvious reason why water conservation is just a plain good idea. it saves money. it\u2019s also most likely the first benefit that pops into our heads when we hear anything on this topic.<\/p>\n
sure, appliances are using less water nowadays. according to\u00a0the pennsylvania state university<\/a>, in the 1950\u2019s, flushing a toilet would use up 7 gallons of water, while these days it\u2019s significantly less. faucets, showerheads, washers and dryers are all designed to be more efficient \u2013 but this doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t save buckets of money by not using buckets of water.<\/p>\n
this is more of a blanket statement because practicing water conservation in your home won\u2019t only save you \u2013 it helps save the world.<\/p>\n
since grabbing, purifying and distributing water takes energy, going easy on the showers could lead to that energy being used elsewhere.<\/p>\n
western resource advocates<\/em><\/a> state bluntly, \u201cenergy and water are inextricably linked: colorado\u2019s water utilities use energy to pump, treat, and distribute potable water; customers use energy to heat, cool, and\/or pressurize water; and wastewater utilities use energy to treat and discharge wastewater. by conserving water, water utilities and customers can save energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
reducing the amount of water in your home or place of work means that energy can be saved.<\/p>\n
farmers in california have been updating equipment and practicing more modern irrigation techniques, with one looming issue. water conservation.<\/p>\n
according to the pacific institute<\/em><\/a>, \u201cwater-efficiency strategies provide important benefits to farmers, ecosystems, and society. some of the water saved represents new supply that can be dedicated to other uses.\u201d<\/p>\n
they list some of the benefits of water conservation being:<\/p>\n
did you know that 80% of global wastewater returns to ecosystems untreated? if we circle back to one of the benefits that water conservation has on agriculture, it becomes clear what \u201cless polluted runoff into rivers and streams\u201d actually means.<\/p>\n
conservation international<\/a> writes that \u201cagriculture, industrial processes, untreated waste and degraded lands are leading causes of pollution in freshwater systems,\u201d adding that poor water quality negatively affects fisheries and threatens freshwater species.<\/p>\n
saving the environment, saving energy or saving a bit of money doesn\u2019t require you to boycott showers for days on end. in fact, there are simple ways to save water that some folks overlook.<\/p>\n
according to energy.gov<\/em><\/a>, you can save water (and some money) by updating and repairing your appliances. for example, replacing an old toilet that uses 6 gallons of water per flush with a more efficient variety could save you $100 per year \u2013 not to mention gallons of water for each bathroom visit.<\/p>\n
a lot of us are guilty of running the tap while brushing our teeth. but did you know that turning off the tap until it\u2019s time to rinse can save up to 200 gallons of water each month?<\/p>\n
nc state university<\/em><\/a> mentions this, along with other occasions, where stopping the flow is the way to go. these include:<\/p>\n
here are some more resources for water-saving tips:<\/p>\n
whether you work in an office or run your own business \u2013 there are a bunch of ways to cut back on the h2o.<\/p>\n
according to business queensland<\/em><\/a>, you should have a conversation about water conservation with your staff. they mention:<\/p>\n
thinking of mopping the floor? think again. most of the time you waste water mopping when a simple sweep-up would do.<\/p>\n
the next time you’re thinking of filling up the mop bucket, reach for the broom and save from unnecessarily wasting water. unless, of course, you work in the food industry or need to follow a specific set of rules.<\/p>\n
you may want to consider installing rainwater tanks, using drought-tolerant plants and applying a generous amount of mulch to keep the moisture in the soil. also remember to water your plants in the morning or in the evening.<\/p>\n
learn more about water conservation at work here:<\/p>\n
if you investigate water conservation for even a few minutes you\u2019re bound to come across someone mentioning or suggesting watersense. watersense is a u.s. environmental protection agency<\/a> program aimed at water conservation.<\/p>\n
and more…<\/p>\n
in addition to that, they offer tips, statistics, facts, and a partnership program.<\/p>\n
the epa-backed watersense wants to get water-efficient appliances on the shelves. to do this, they need to recruit the help of partners to promote products and services in categories like:<\/p>\n
the responsibilities for partners are:<\/p>\n
granting epa<\/a> rights to use partner name on the agency website or alongside other program promotional efforts.<\/p>\n
there are some common misconceptions surrounding water conservation that we felt were important enough to share. even we were, admittedly, shocked by one or two of them.<\/p>\n
a lot of people think that taking a bath saves more water than letting the shower run. while we can\u2019t blame anyone for thinking this, it\u2019s just simply not true.<\/p>\n
of course, there are exceptions \u2013 tiny bath tubs, long showers, etc.<\/p>\n
truth is, filling a bath tub with water wastes more than a quick shower.<\/p>\n
in the news, you may see headlines like:<\/p>\n
even though the earth still provides us with plenty of water, with over 360 quintilian gallons of water on the planet, another issue, according to live science<\/a>, is the amount of money it would take to desalinate our saltwater.<\/p>\n
ah, yes. we all sometimes think that what we do in our lives doesn\u2019t have an impact on the bigger picture. there are statistics that show how much of an impact we can make together.<\/p>\n
if everyone in the us saved just a few drops of water each day, the results would be staggering.<\/p>\n
learn more about the little things you can do to help save water, energy and the ecosystem:<\/p>\n
the commercial pops on: it\u2019s a picturesque spring morning. there\u2019s a crisp, rushing river surrounded by lush forest on either side. a smiling family plunges their water bottles into it and drink happily while you\u2019re gulping down something that just came from your tap.<\/p>\n
you think, \u201ci want what they\u2019re having.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201carctic springs\u2026taste the fresh natural freshness of nature.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cthat’s it – i\u2019m buying it.\u201d<\/p>\n
yeah, those commercials really know how to sell bottled water. the truth is, the fda and the epa each share the same exact standards when it comes to the water they\u2019re providing.<\/p>\n
additionally, bottled water requires much more water and energy to make than simply getting a drink from your tap.<\/p>\n
find more myths about water conservation at these sites:<\/p>\n
read more eye-popping tips, statistics and facts here:<\/p>\n
it seems so obvious, yet we may not think about it every day. water conservation can be directly linked to saving animals.<\/p>\n
when we use water conservatively, we\u2019re helping to maintain natural wetland habitats. the wildlife trusts go into detail about the positive impact we can make if we just turn off the faucet.<\/p>\n
they quote andy brown, anglian water\u2019s climate change & environmental performance manager, \u201cwe share this most precious of natural resources with the wildlife and wild places that help to define our region and make it such fantastic place to live and work. by making better use of water in our everyday lives we can all help to ensure there is enough to go around, now and into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
according to eos<\/a>, studies show that by eating less meat and fewer animal-based products could reduce water use since animal production uses more water than crops do. in addition, reducing the amount of food that\u2019s lost or wasted at various points in the food supply chain\u00a0could feed about 1 billion extra people\u00a0while simultaneously reducing water use.<\/p>\n
there are several endangered fish species:<\/p>\n
all of them caused by human activity. streams and rivers are being run dry due to over use of water. when we save water, there\u2019s more for the fish \u2013 specifically for the salmon. they need their annual upriver run to reproduce.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
whether it\u2019s saving some money, energy or the ecosystem \u2013 more and more people are finding ways to invest in water conservation.<\/p>\n
more tips to saving water at home and outdoors:<\/p>\n
fun fact: energy efficient appliances aren\u2019t always more expensive.<\/p>\n
energy-star<\/a> rated appliances are designed to be much more efficient than the others. refrigerators, for example, can be up to 10% more efficient \u2013 and save families up to $300 throughout its lifetime.<\/p>\n
switching from an old washer to an energy-efficient variety can save you up to $200 a year.<\/p>\n
it’s no secret american citizens use water. whether as a refreshing beverage, an appetite suppressor or as a part of a healthy diet, water use is on the rise. according to waterfootprint, with on average use of 2,000 gallons of water per day; americans now use more than twice the global water use. while the number is staggering, the majority of the water use is in the form of commercial production and agriculture.<\/p>\n
what’s more, nearly 40 percent of water use goes to daily and meat production.<\/p>\n
one way to save water is by choosing a diet limiting meat; considering it accounts for nearly 40 percent of water use, nytimes<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n
additionally, the american diet also accounts for nearly 1,000 gallons of water per person, per day for diet. the footprint on a global scale is approximately 900 gallons of water per day, per person for diet, nationalgeographic<\/a> says.<\/p>\n
for example, one serving of chicken in your diet accounts for roughly 90 gallons of water.<\/p>\n
when looking for ways to save water, one must consider nutrition choices. water use<\/a> for agriculture accounts for nearly 70 percent of the water use globally. this is far greater than domestic water use coming in at roughly 10 percent.<\/p>\n
according to research from the barilla center for food & nutrition<\/a>, environmentally sustainable and healthful diet work together. some ways to conserve water and boost nutrition include:<\/p>\n
wen\u00a0 you consider water conservation and nutrition, one must also consider weight loss. any healthy diet and nutrition plan for weight loss should include water. but, how can you drink more water, but still be mindful on saving water?<\/p>\n
according to texas water resources institute<\/a>, one way is to use reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones. then, you can fill up your water bottle in the convenience of your home or on the go. by using a reusable water bottle as a part of your weight loss plan, you are not only drinking more water, but saving up to five times the water used to produce a water bottle.<\/p>\n
you can also consider alternatives to drinking plain water. you’ll continue to up your water intake, while still consuming beverages connected to weight loss. according to medicalnewstoday<\/a>, research shows the connection between green tea and weight loss. to save water<\/a>, fill up a kettle, which allows you to drink tea throughout the day while saving water.<\/p>\n