August is National Water Quality Month - Conserve Water and Save

Did you know that less than 1% of all water on Earth is usable by humans and if the world's water fit into a bucket, only one teaspoonful would be drinkable? The average North American uses 400 liters of water every day whereas the average person in the developing world uses 10 liters of water every day for their drinking, washing and cooking. Do we really need to use all this extra water?

Reducing our use of water decreases water pollution, increases our energy savings, and creates more efficient use of our water resources. Learning new conservation methods for home and work and teaching these to our family and children is so important for water sustainability and our future.

Here some great Water Conservation and Money Saving Tips:

In the Shower:

• If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the shower head with a water-efficient model.
• Take a shower instead of a bath, it uses 1/2 the amount of water. 
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• Turn off the water while you shave your legs and shampoo and save up to 450 gallons a month.
• A friend of mine keeps a bucket in her shower to catch water as it warms up or runs and uses this to flush toilets or water plants.

While Doing Laundry:

• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full and save 1,000 gallons a month.
• Wash dark clothes in cold water and save water and energy. Cold water also keeps your clothes colors vibrant. 
• Use a front load washing machine. They use at least 40% less water and up to 65% less electricity compared to a top loader. Front loaders are kinder on your dedicates as well. Buy or make you own appropriate cold water detergent.

In the Kitchen:

• Fix the drips and save 20 gallons per day.
• Don't pre-rinse dishes. Dish washers don't need it anymore. This will save 10-15 gallons.
• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water. Only fill up the sink with what you need. Also I have read that the dish washer is also more energy and water efficient than washing dishes. Use the short time wash or eco-cycle.
• Enjoy cold water by keeping a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.
• Wash your fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water instead of running water from the tap. Scrub with a veggie wash to cut down on water usage. Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.

Around the Home:

• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fix it and save up to 1,000 gallons a month. Use water efficient toilets.
• Collect water from your roof with a rain barrel to water your garden, indoor plants and wash your car.
• Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use, not to run the water while they brush their teeth or lather their hands. This will save over 50 gallons a month.
• Don't ever pour chemicals down drains, or flush drugs down toilets; it could come back in diluted form in your water. Don't use your toilet as a garbage can.

Cost Savings: Minimum $50-$100 per year for a 4 person family

Most of the cost savings is energy savings in heating the water but you will also trim some money off your water bill by conserving. For example, using a low-flow shower head will annually save an estimated $10 per person in water heating savings alone.

Every year globally more people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war. Keeping our water safe is very important as well as being prepared for any water emergency. One of the items I recommend for a home and car emergency kit is a water purifier like the Life Saver Bottle. A person can live for only 3 days without water. Please watch the following video (9 minutes) that will seriously change your thinking on water and the world.

http://libguides.chattanoogastate.edu/water

Reference Links:

Neat Shower and Water Energy Calculator
http://www.paystolivegreen.com/2009/01/shower-water-and-energy-use-calculator/

http://www.paystolivegreen.com/2008/07/quick-saving-tip-shorter-showers/

Water Statistics Referenced Above

http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php

Support the Lifesaver Bottle
http://www.lifesaversystems.com/
http://www.lifesaverbottleusa.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Lifesaver-Bottle-4000-Ultra-Filtration/dp/B001EHF99A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312307134&sr=8-1

Image By:
http://www.freeimageslive.co.uk/free_stock_image/waterdrop01jpg