We use water every day, but many of us don’t consider just how much we’re consuming when performing menial tasks. Some common practices and household chores are significant water wasters, but these offenses can be easily solved with a little knowledge.
- How you wash your dishes plays a big role in household water consumption. Handwashing consumes far more water than a modern dishwasher – approximately 20 gallons versus under 10 gallons per load.
- If you take pride in the upkeep and appearance of your vehicle, reconsider how you wash it. When you wash at home, you can waste as much as 140 gallons of water. Many professional car washes incorporate water recycling measures in their methods, plus their equipment utilizes less water to do the job – as little as 30 gallons.
- Watering your lawn or garden wastes a lot of water – as much as 265 gallons an hour. If you must water, do it at dawn or dusk so moisture does not evaporate and is more effective in reaching your plants’ root system and keeps plants from getting scorched.
- Want an even better way to water your garden and plants? Collect rainwater. You can save as much as 1,300 gallons of water annually by using a rainwater collection system.
- Poor swimming pool maintenance can cause your pool to lose as much as 1,000 gallons of water a month. Evaporation and cracks in pool foundations and surrounds are big culprits for this water loss. Keep your pool properly covered when not in use and repair all defects to prevent water loss.
- Keep taps turned off when performing tasks such as brushing teeth or washing hands. Even if you have a low-flow faucet, you can still save 1.5 gallons of water each minute you shut off the tap.
- Boiling water for cooking, making tea, and other kitchen tasks can be a real water waster. Only boil what you need—don’t fill up the pot if it’s not necessary. You can also reuse water used for cooking by letting it cool first and watering plants with it.
- Switch to steaming instead of boiling vegetables. The steaming process requires much less water and still produces tasty meals.
- Adjust your diet. Nearly 53 gallons of water are required to produce a single 1/4th lb. hamburger. Meat production is a huge water consumer. By including more plant-based options, you can reduce your indirect water consumption.
Water is an integral part of everyday life – it sustains us. Indiana American Water is committed to sustainability and water conservation. Want to learn more about how you can save money and help ensure water is available for future generations? Visit us online at https://amwater.com/inaw/water-information/wise-water-use.
