Human consumption is stressing the limits of freshwater resources, and is creating water shortage and pollution problems. Conserving water can help alleviate these problems, especially in times of drought.
The water footprint is an indicator of direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual is defined as the total amount of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual as a result of its own consumption pattern and country of residence. Find your water footprint at The Water Footprint Network: www.waterfootprint.org.*
US Environmental Protection Agency, Learn the Issues: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/learn.htm*
Water Sense, US EPA partnership: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm*
About Water efficiency: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/index.htm*
Find a product: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/index.htm*
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Watershed management: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watershedmgmt*
Aqua Pa: http://www.aquaamerica.com/Pennsylvania*
In the Bathroom:
- Install a toilet dam or plastic bottle in your toilet tank.
- Install a water-efficient showerhead (2.5 gallons or less per minute).
- Take short showers and draw less water for baths.
- When you buy a new toilet, purchase a low flow model (1.6 gallons or less per flush).
- Check your toilet for "silent" leaks by placing a little food coloring in the tank and seeing if it leaks into the bowl.
- Turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving.
In the Kitchen and Laundry:
- Compost your food scraps rather than using a garbage disposal in your sink.
- Keep a gallon of drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap for cold water.
- Run your washing machine with a full load of clothes. Wash with warm water instead of hot, rinse with cold water instead of warm. Wash with cold water when you can. When possible, hang your wash out to dry.
- Use drought-tolerant, native plants and grasses for landscaping and reduce grass-covered areas.
- If irrigation is needed, use slow drip methods and water systems.
- Cut your grass at least three inches high to shade the roots, making it more drought tolerant; keep your mower sharp for the healthiest grass.
- Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation.
- Use porous pavement (gravel is a good example) instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways. Porous pavement allows the rain to recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk.
- Wash your car less often or wash it at a car wash where they clean and recycle the water. If you do wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose.
The water conservation tips listed above are from the US EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/p2/pubs/water.htm*
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Water conservation tips from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watershedmgmt/cwp/view.asp?a=1427&q=515392 *
Water conservation tips from Aqua PA: http://www.aquaamerica.com/Pages/EfficientWaterUse.aspx*
Water conservation tips from Philadelphia Water Revenue Bureau: http://www.phila.gov/waterrev/Conservation_Tips.html*
PA DEP Drought Information Center: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watershedmgmt/cwp/view.asp?a=1435&q=523372&watershedmgmtNav=|*
Aqua PA drought fact sheet: http://www.aquaamerica.com/Pages/DroughtFactSheet.aspx*
* By clicking on this link you will leave the EAC website and go to another website that is not associated with or endorsed by the EAC .