Time to act: Lifestyle hacks to save water at home
What's the story
About 2 billion people worldwide have no access to safe drinking water. The deepening global water crisis would put at risk assets worth $45 trillion by 2050, found a recent UNESCO report.
As we observe another World Water Day, it's time we cut down our showers and fixed taps.
Here, we give a low-down on lifestyle fixes to help you conserve water at home.
Washing
Mind the taps, use washing machines only on full load
-Wash a full machine load of clothes. It consumes less water/electricity than half-loaded rounds.
-Instead of washing them at home, take vehicles to car wash.
-Wash pets outdoors, preferably in a lawn if you aren't using soap.
-Time your showers. Keep them short. Better still, bathe using bucket/mug. It'll help you keep a track of the water consumed.
-Use taps and flushes judiciously.
Cooking
Prefer steaming over boiling. Always
-Always cover pots and pans. It uses less energy and water to boil/steam food. Prefer steaming over boiling.
-When boiling, use the leftover water to make soup or water plants.
-Cut down on your meat and dairy consumption. Rearing cattle/livestock is a water-intensive practice.
Try not to waste food. A lot goes in producing what you carelessly throw in the bin.
Gardening
Water outdoor plants early in the morning
-Ask yourself questions long overdue. Keeping a lawn requires a lot of water. Do you really need it? Have potted plants instead. Pick the ones that thrive even in dry conditions. Low maintenance, no waste.
-Water outdoor plants early in the morning. Cooler temperature ensures that no water is lost to evaporation.
-When watering plants, wet the soil and not the leaves.
Taking stock
Climate change is real and happening right now
-Look for leaks everywhere and fix them.
-Generating electricity requires thousands of gallons of water. Use power wisely.
-Replace old shower heads, taps, toilets and faucets with new, efficient fittings that use less energy and water to the same effect.
Climate change is no longer an imminent, imaginary threat. It's real and is happening right now. Let's catch up before it's too late.