While we take water for granted, in many parts of the world clean, running water is non existent or in extremely limited and difficult supply yet many of us, with a virtually unlimited supply, waste it - knowingly or unknowingly.

Droughts are cause for concern in some parts because of the low level of water supply. Water and water conservation is absolutely necessary to our survival, and with growing populations it’s straining our infrastructure and water resources to the limits. Costs for providing water to our homes and industry will escalate but so will the need to look for new resources. We can minimize those costs to ourselves (and ultimately to our environment) by carrying out a few simple water saving methods in our homes. Here are a few tips: Indoors:

1. Take shorter showers AND get a low flow showerhead. They are inexpensive to buy but get one that uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute. You won’t notice the difference in your showing enjoyment, but you will if you have low water pressure - you’ll in fact get a better shower with a low flow showerhead. Some models have a great idea! They allow you to control the flow while you suds up, then increase the water again for rinsing.

2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth or shaving. You’ll be surprised just how much water can be wasted this way. Teach your children the same good practices.

3. Avoid flushing toilets unnecessarily. Don’t put anything except toilet waste into the toilet. Dead spiders, hair balls, cosmetic pads and other trash belong in the garbage can, not the toilet. Unfortunately toilets are responsible for a huge part of household water usage (30-40%). Which leads to the next tip …

4. Replace older toilets. The new water efficient dual flush systems available now save a huge amount of water compared to toilets 10 years old or older: The current standard full flush for solid waste is 1.6 gallons per flush - the half flush for liquid waste is .8 gallons per flush … compare this to 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush!

5. Attach aerators on all the faucets in your home. They allow air to be mixed in with the water so less water comes through the taps.

6. To adjust water temperature, turn down one tap instead of turning up the other because it uses less water and achieves the same result.

7. Collect the water that comes from hot taps While waiting for the hot water to reach you. It normally goes down the drain, but can be used for watering plants and cleaning. In areas of extreme water shortage pop a bucket in the shower to collect shower water and this can also be used on the garden.

8. Keep a jug/bottle of water in the fridge for drinking. This will save waiting for water to run cool and, if you’re on municipal water, it will reduce the chlorine content as it sits in the fridge.

9. Run washer or dishwasher when you have full loads OR adjust the water level for smaller loads. Front-load washers use about a third less water than top-loading (and less washing powder). Most also have an automatic load-to-water adjustment, and some have a suds-saver option that drains wash water into your laundry tub to be reused for another load.

10. Instead of using water with a kitchen sink disposal unit, start a compost pile in the yard with vegetable and fruit waste.

Outdoors:

1. Check for leaking taps and pipes. If you have a water meter, do a test to satisfy yourself you don’t have leaks. Read your meter then leave for a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the reading is exactly the same you can be assured you’re OK. If not you have a leak somewhere on your property that needs to be fixed.

2. Find leaks and fix. Check first for dripping faucets and replace washers where necessary. Even if taps are turned off hard, they can still drip and this is a sure sign washers are going bad. It sounds amazing but a drip rate of one drop per second wastes 1,000 liters per month (about 3,000 US gallons per year). Toilets can also leak. It’s easy to check this by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. The color will appears in the bowl after about half an hour if you have a leak. So replace worn parts - they’re cheap and the repairs are easily done.

3. Mulch your garden. Mulch is a layer of material spread on top of the soil to conserve moisture, discourage the growth of weeds and even out soil temperature - it can keep up to 70% more water in the soil. Beware of using green lawn clippings - they can pack down quite hard and become a barrier stopping water getting to the plants. Better to put them into the compost pile and let them break down.

4. Water less often but more deeply, and aerate the lawn with a fork for more efficient lawn care. Use drought tolerant grass.

5. Add wetting agents to your garden, lawns and tub plants to keep water (and nutrients) in the soil. Kitty litter can also be used to hold water in the soil but it does tend to stick together in lumps, so mix it in with the soil.

6. Seek information on plants that are not water hungry. Also group together plants that have the same water requirements.

7. Try to water as late or as early as possible to reduce evaporation from your garden, and using a trigger nozzle on the hose will save water.

8. Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture. If we practice our own water conservation methods at home we encourage our children to accept that our natural resources are in limited supply - something they’ll have to come to terms with in the future. And something our present generation too often chooses to ignore.