In the times we live in, fresh and potable water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. The drought shakes Angola and the world, and it tends to get worse.
Water conservation has become essential in all regions, even where water appears to be plentiful. That's because our water resources are finite and are decreasing every year. Use our guide to save more water, both indoors and in your garden and yard.
Why save water?
In addition to saving money on the utility bill, water conservation helps prevent water pollution in lakes, rivers and local watersheds. Water conservation also avoids greenhouse gas emissions associated with water treatment and distribution.
Conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation and reducing pollution from leaks. Overloading municipal sewage systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow into lakes and rivers. The lower the amount of water that flows through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution. In some communities, the costly expansion of the sewer system was avoided by conserving community-wide domestic water.
Na casa de banho
1. Turn off the tap while you are not using the water
Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or hair, for example, is something we've been taught forever, but few people do. The truth is that this small gesture applied daily, at the end of the month can mean a very significant saving on your monthly bill.
Otherwise, notice:
• When washing your hands or teeth with the tap running, you can use up to 14 liters of water. If you use a glass, you can reduce it to just 1 litre.
• By keeping the tap running while shaving, you can use up to 40 liters of water. If you put a lid on the sink, you will only use 2 liters.
2. Opt for the shower
Swap immersion baths for showers. And the faster the better.
A 15-minute shower with the tap running consumes around 180 litres. But if you turn off the water while soaping and reduce the shower time to 5 minutes, you will reduce consumption to just 60 litres.
Already in an immersion bath, water consumption easily reaches 200 liters.
3. Enjoy the shower water
There are few people who use this trick, but believe me it is one of the most effective for saving water.
While you wait for it to heat up, store those good liters of water that would otherwise be wasted. You can then reuse it for flushing, watering houseplants, or even washing small items of clothing by hand. Do the experience.
4. Do not use the toilet as a dustbin
If you are in the habit of putting garbage in the toilet, know that every time you flush the toilet you are wasting between 7 and 15 liters of water, just to get rid of it. When you put the garbage in the bin, you don't waste any water.
5. Take care of your toilet
With flush toilets we can save enough water to significantly reduce the bill at the end of the month.
First, checking if it has any water leaks. To do this, put dye inside the toilet. If you see colored water in the toilet without flushing it, then it is a sign that there are leaks to be treated.
The next step is to reduce the volume of water that is released with each flush. You can do this by installing a double flush toilet or simply placing a full plastic bottle inside the toilet.
6. Install a flow reducing compressor
By installing a flow reducer on a faucet you will reduce water waste by about 50%. If you install one in the shower, the savings can reach 80%. If possible, do it on all the faucets and showers you have at home, and with this small step you will save a lot of water.
Na cozinha
7. Pay attention to machines
In the kitchen, the machines that consume the most water are the dishwashers or washing machines. In this sense, try to put the machines to work only when they are fully charged. Nowadays, there are also machines that have the option of half load.
8. Don't have water dripping
Having leaky pipes or faucets is one of the main sources of wasted water. A drip may seem minimal, but a tap dripping every 5 seconds, for 24 hours, can use 30 liters of water a day, which corresponds to more than 10,000 liters of water a year.
Always watch your plumbing and faucets and try to solve the problem of those that are not working.
9. Use only the water you need
When you're going to boil eggs, for example, you don't need to fill the pan with water. Just put enough amount to cover the food. Otherwise, in addition to water, you will also spend more gas or electricity while waiting for it to boil.
10. Do not thaw food in running water
If you thaw food under running water, think twice before doing so. Not only are you wasting water, you can also put your health at risk. Defrosting should not be done under running water, nor in the microwave or at room temperature, as it favors the proliferation of bacteria. Instead, let the food thaw in the fridge.
No jardim
11. Do not hose down the leaves
In the garden, water should only be used for washing and not for sweeping. Many people use the pressure of the water jet to sweep away leaves and other debris without realizing that they are using much more water than they are supposed to. For this type of cleaning, use the broom.
12. Water the garden at specific times
If you water the garden during the hottest hours, part of the water being used will evaporate, which will make it completely useless. Choose to water your garden first thing in the morning or later in the day. Also remember that large amounts of water are not needed, as plants are not able to absorb everything at the same time.
13. Save money when washing your car
Do not wash the car with a hose. This not only wastes water but leaves the car poorly washed. A bucket of water, a sponge and some soap end up being a way to save water and wash the car better, even if you fill the bucket several times.
When washing the car with a hose, you can spend about 500 liters of water. If you wash with a bucket and sponge, you will reduce the cost to 50 liters.
14. Reuse water to water plants
If you used some water just to cook some vegetables or eggs, this water is perfectly fine for watering the plants. In fact, by boiling the water, it was even purifying it, so the plants thank you. Be sure, however, to let the water cool down so as not to overcook the plants.
Now that you know how to save water, all that's left to do is practice!
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