As humans, we tend to over consume. Whether it be water, electricity or heat, we often forget how valuable these resources are. Water is often viewed as a renewable resource that can be used excessively. And while that is true to a certain extent, the problem is that water is being used at a much faster rate than it is able to be replenished. Did you know that only 1% of all water is fit for human consumption? So, although 70% of the earth’s surface is water, 97% of that water is saline.
Considering all of the ways we use water, we need to be more conscious of how much we waste. Learning to conserve is definitely the first step. Even just simple ways, such as turning off the water while you’re brushing your teeth; only running your clothes washer and dishwasher when they are completely full; and adjusting sprinklers to only water your lawn and not the pavement. Of course, there are several more ways to conserve water. But by doing these things in combination with low-flow fixtures on your appliances, the amount of water that can be saved is significant. For example, if you install a water-saving toilet in your home, instead of using 33,000 gallons per year (considering it is flushed about 15 times a day) you would only use 9,000 gallons per year. If you also used low-flow fixtures on your faucets, washing machine and shower head, you could save 40,000 gallons of water per year and 30% savings on your water bill.
The big picture: If every household in the United States used low-flow fixtures, we could save 5.4 billion gallons of water per DAY. This is equivalent to 11.3 million dollars. In just one year, this amount to 2 trillion gallons of water saved. Oh, the possibilities if we all made a conscious effort to conserve! Source: eLocal.com
