Since 71% of the earth is covered with water, some people can't help but wonder: why should we conserve?
Here are some important facts about water on this planet:
- Ninety-seven percent of all water on earth is salt water, which is not drinkable.
- Only 3 percent of the water on Earth is fresh water and only 0.5 percent is drinkable.
- The other 2.5 percent of fresh water is either enclosed in the polar ice caps, glaciers, the atmosphere, the soil, or beneath the Earth's surface or is too polluted to be consumed.
With growing population rates and such a small percentage of all the water on Earth suitable for consumption, it makes sense that we need to preserve and conserve this precious resource.
Saving water means using our limited water supply wisely and caring for it properly. Since each of us depends on water to sustain life, it is our responsibility to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our sources pure and safe for generations to come.
Small individual gestures make a difference and contribute to water savings. Take a look at the following simple steps that can be taken today without much sacrifice:
1. Turn off the shower whenever possible
In addition to spending less time in the shower, avoid leaving it on while you soap up and turn it on only when you rinse off. This will lower your consumption from an average of 180 to 48 liters per shower.
2. Keep the faucet turned off
When you brush your teeth, face or hands, keep the faucet turned off. Savings range from 12 liters in homes to 80 liters in apartments. Also, ensure the faucet does not drip water even when closed. At least 16 thousand liters of clean water is wasted in a year just because you do not close the tap properly.
3. Beware of leaks
Every month, 96 thousand of liters of drinking water are wasted.
4. Wash clothes less often and more carefully
Start the washing machine only when it is full; a five-liter machine consumes 135 liters with each use. You can also let clothes pile up and wash them all at once.
5. Take care of the pool water
When you are not using it, cover the pool-this will reduce evaporation by up to 90 percent. In an average-sized pool, the loss reaches 3,785 liters per month, enough for the consumption of four people for a year.
6. Reuse water
Water from the shower and washing machine can be reused for small cleaning jobs, such as cleaning the sidewalk or car.
7. Choose plants that need little water
If you do not give up on having a green corner in your home, you can still opt for species that do not require much water, such as cacti and succulents. Besides being beautiful, they do not require much maintenance.