How can communities reduce water usage

Take Shorter Showers One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water. You can also install a simple shower timer , available from Eartheasy or your local water utility. Fit Household Faucets with Aerators This easy and effective home water conservation method is also the cheapest!

A simple low-flow aerator saves water in the bathroom, while a swiveling aerator can serve multiple purposes in the kitchen. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing. Rinse Your Razor in the Sink Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water.

This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste.

Opt for the Dishwasher Over Hand Washing It may seem counterintuitive, but it turns out washing dishes by hand uses a lot more water than running the dishwasher, even more so if you have a water-conserving model.

The EPA estimates an efficient dishwasher uses half as much water, saving close to 5, gallons each year. If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a pan full of hot water. Dual-swivel aerators are available to make this easier. If using a dishwasher, there is usually no need to pre-rinse the dishes. Use a dual-setting aerator.

Keep a Bottle of Drinking Water in the Fridge Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful. Store drinking water in the fridge in a safe drinking bottle. If you are filling water bottles to bring along on outdoor hikes, consider buying a personal water filter, which enables users to drink water safely from rivers or lakes or any available body of water. Check Faucets and Pipes for Leaks A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day.

Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons. Some faucet leaks are easily spotted, but others take a little more effort to locate.

Dry sinks and tubs thoroughly and allow to sit for an hour. To find leaks from faucet handles, dry the area around them before running water. Check Your Toilets for Leaks Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.

If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak. Rinse water from dishes and food preparation can be collected and used to soak other dishes.

All food has a water footprint, but some are much larger than others. Eating less beef, one of the most water-intensive foods, is a smart place to start. Shifting away from animal products to a plant-based diet can shrink your water footprint significantly. Buying less of everything—from clothing to electronics to household goods—can dramatically decrease your water footprint. For more information about the thirstiest appliances in your home and how to reduce their water usage, read Top 5 Water Wasters in Your Home.

Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the hose only for rinsing; this simple practice can save as much as gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water.

Better yet, use a waterless car washing system; there are several brands, such as Eco Touch, which are now on the market.

Blasting leaves or stains off your walkways with water is one way to remove them, but brushing with a broom to first loosen the dirt and grime will decrease your water use and save you time in the long run. Swimming pools can lose an inch or more of water each week to evaporation.

Temperature, humidity, wind, and the way the pool is situated can all affect how quickly water evaporates. To save thousands of gallons of pool water each season, get a cover for your pool.

But they can be just as wasteful as leaks indoors. Check frequently to keep them drip-free. Use hose washers at spigots and hose connections to eliminate leaks.

You can harvest grey water in a small way with a bucket in your kitchen or shower, or install a grey water system, which reroutes water from your drains to your landscape. Though not yet legal everywhere, codes are changing to allow more people to take advantage of this source of otherwise wasted water. The simplest systems harvest only water from the washing machine , which can add up to thousands of gallons per year.

Clear any visible clogs, and adjust the settings according to the needs of your plants and the time of year. Plants will need less water in cooler weather and more in hotter weather, and correct settings will not only save water but ensure that plants are getting the right amounts.

Low flow toilets and dual flush toilets save considerable amounts of water Low flow toilets and dual flush toilets save considerable amounts of water. How to save water? Armadale: Save Water Alliance. Water Saving Tips? This animated site gives water saving tips for homes and gardens.

Water Guide : Water Saving Tips?. London: Water Guide. Further Readings. Water Efficiency Factsheet. Water Management Options. Save water inside your home Save water inside your home. Case Studies. Colorado: Colorado State University. Fact Sheet No. Training Material. Water Conservation. Fact Sheet Water Conservation. Fact Sheet. Washington DC: Red Cross. Awareness Raising Material. Every drop counts. Environmental sound technologies for urban and domestic water use efficiency Every drop counts.

Environmental sound technologies for urban and domestic water use efficiency. UNEP : Every drop counts. The real value of water The real value of water.

RWCC : The real value of water. PowerPoint Presentation. Sanitation Frameworks and Approaches. Sanitation 21 Framework. The framework proposed by the International Water Association IWA task force for the analysis and selection of appropriate sanitation systems is…. View Factsheet. The tutorial for sustainable sanitation planning is a ready source of information for decision makers and individuals involved in setting up…. Open Planning of Sanitation Systems. GTZ Ecosan Approach. The guidelines and toolbox presented in the GTZ ecosan source book aim to address the needs and interests of initiators, planners, practitioners and….

Community-Led Total Sanitation CLTS is an approach which helps rural communities to understand and realise the negative effects of poor sanitation…. City Sanitation Plans are strategic planning processes for citywide sanita-tion sector development.

Addressing technical and non-technical aspects of…. Sanitation as a Business. Lack of sanitation is a major risk factor, especially for people in developing countries. Problems with sanitation services have led to the…. Find ways to conserve water in the yard that don't result in brown grass and dead plants. Use rain catchers or barrels to collect and store rainwater for use in the lawn and garden. Rainwater may actually be better for plants because it does not contain any added chemicals.

Run sprinklers during the coolest part of day -- when leaves and roots can absorb the most water -- and aim them so water is not wasted on sidewalks or driveways. The best way for your community to curb water consumption is through awareness. Educate others in your community about efficient water practices, and spread this information to as many people and other communities as possible.

Communities can also work with grant programs to fund conservation projects to help reduce fresh water usage, while also encouraging local governments to pass water-saving ordinances. Governments set water quality standards, issue water-use permits and ensure reliable supplies for the communities they serve. They also have the power to control consumption rates. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Science in zoology, Elizabeth Sheldon has had the opportunity to travel between Portland, Chicago, Detroit and London, where she worked in social media marketing and wrote science-related articles.