Tips To Save And Manage Water
Category Lifestyle
South Africa is regarded as a semi-arid country. We have an average of 450mm of rain per year and a high rate of evaporation. Conserving water is the responsibility of all in South Africa – every drop counts.
Water Saving Tips
Reduce water consumption
- Turn-off the tap while brushing teeth, shaving or soaping hands.
- Take shorter showers and use less water if you bath.
- Avoid buying bottled water.
- Sweep outside areas instead of hosing with water.
- Use eco-friendly soaps and cleaning products.
- Fix leaks at home & report public water leaks to the Municipality.
- Always use a plugged-sink or bowl instead of a running tap.
- Insulate hot water pipes to reduce time waiting for water to heat up.
- Install aerators and flow-reducing valves on your taps.
- Install water saving devices on taps, toilets, showers & sprinklers.
- Install a water meter and monitor your use.
- Install an instant water heater at your taps for immediate hot water.
Car
- Wash your car with a bucket and sponge only.
- Use a hosepipe with a self-closing nozzle to wash your car.
- Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Bathroom
- Shower instead of bath.
- Use less water in the bath.
- Bathe young children together.
- Flush the toilet only when odours make it necessary.
- Put a brick in your cistern to reduce.
- Install a low-flow shower-head.
- Install aerators and flow-reducing valves on your taps.
- Install a dual flush mechanism on your toilet.
- Install a geyser blanket for insulation.
- Insulate the copper pipes around the geyser.
Laundry
- Cut back on washing your towels and linen.
- Match the size of your laundry load with water volume.
- Buy an eco-friendly wash ball.
- Buy a water-efficient washing machine.
Kitchen
- Only turn the dishwasher on when it’s full.
- Use a plugged sink to wash dishes instead of a running tap.
- Use less dish-washing liquid to reduce the need for rinsing.
- Use a plugged sink to rinse vegetables instead of a running tap.
- Use the water you used to rinse fruit and veggies to water plants.
- Keep a bottle of tap water in the fridge to avoid running the tap until the water is cold.
- Don’t use running water to defrost food.
- Install aerators and flow-reducing valves on your taps.
- Purchase water-efficient appliances and water-saving devices.
Plants & Garden
- Learn about water-wise gardening.
- Water plants at the coolest part of the day.
- Group plants together that have the same water requirements.
- Water plants with the water you used in the kitchen to rinse fruit and veggies.
- Choose local indigenous water-wise plants for your home and garden.
- Adjust sprinklers to water plants and not the pavement.
- Cover your pool so the water doesn’t evaporate.
- Check your pool for leaks.
- Put self-closing spray-nozzles on hosepipes.
- Use natural and organic garden products.
Methods to check your home is leak free
- Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks. Read the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water has been used. If the water meter doesn’t read exactly the same, then there is a leak.
- To check for toilet tank leaks, add food coloring to the tank. If the toilet leaks, the toilet bowl will have changed color within 30 minutes.
- Repair dripping taps by replacing the washer. If a tap is dripping at a rate of 1 drop per second, you could be wasting up to 10,220 Liters per year!
- If your toilet handle constantly stays in a downward position this means that water is constantly running. Replace or fix the handle to avoid wasted water.
- Insulate your water pipes. If you do, you’ll get hot water faster, avoid wasting water while it is heating, and also saving money on electricity!
Source - forloveofwater.co.za
Author City Of Cape Town
Published 16 Sep 2016 / Views -