Ways to Save Water at Home

Water is a resource that we all need. It is important we take action to save water because the risk involved means that within a few years there will not be enough water available. Prices will increase so much that many people will not be able to afford to buy the necessary water they need.

We owe future generations a debt and by using water wisely today, we can instill habits within our children which will help sustain the supply of such a precious commodity. If we take care in our use of water, it will also save ourselves a lot of money in the process. Here are some useful ways to conserve the amount of water you use at home:

*Check in your house to see there are no hidden leaks because you can waste a lot of water because of leaks. A useful tip is to check your water meter at a moment you aren't using water and then check it a few hours later; be sure you don't use water during this time. If there is a change in your meter reading then you have a leak. In this case you have to figure out where the leak is and fix it. Leaks can also damage the fabric of the home, so this may even save the home from harm as well, which is certainly worth looking into.

*Use a shower instead of a bath and try to make your showers short. If you really need that bath, re-use the water left in the bath for garden use or for that first wash of smaller garments before rinsing with fresh water. If you do this, you can save yourself costs on washing machine loads which are too light to be justified.

*Install shower heads which save a lot of water. Often we don't need power showers which spurt out loads of water, and a less powerful one may do the job adequately.

*Don't flush the toilet more than necessary; of course it is necessary for good hygiene but try to limit it. You can save money on flushing by placing a brick in the cistern, this cuts down the amount of water you use because as brick will replace a quantity of water. If multiplied by the number of times you flush, this amounts to a great deal of water saved over the period of a year.

*Don't let the water run if you are washing your face or brushing your teeth. This is a simple one many people forget. If you prefer to have a little water on your toothbrush, turn off the tap as soon as you have soaked the brush as this saves a lot.

*Use your dishwasher and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded. This will save you more water than if you use it more times each day not fully loaded.

*Store some drinking water in the refrigerator instead of using the tap. Often drinking water in bottles is more advantageous to the health anyway and you may just find you prefer it.

*It is important you insulate your water tank because you will have hot water and save a lot of water because you don't need to let run the water for a long time. This keeps your tank working efficiently, and if your tap is a distance from the tank and needs to run cold, keep the water in buckets and use for the garden.

* You can also save water by shaving. It is better to fill the sink with a few inches when you rinse your razor and avoid to waste water which you don't need.

*Make more use of microwave cooking. This will save you a lot more water than cooking the normal way. Another measure here is to use the water wisely and steam food instead of boiling it, making use of water in a healthy and nutritious way.

*Use rain water to irrigate your garden. Investing in a garden water barrel is a great idea and means you always have free water to make your garden look great.

Saving on water does require a bit of change and it can become habit forming. Water conservation is a great habit to have, making those dry periods in the summer much easier to cope with, and teaching your children the benefits of wise use of a natural resource.