At-Home Guide to Water Conservation
Water conservation is one of the most important issues of our time. Without adequate access to water, any other concerns fall quickly by the wayside. Water is a finite resource, and it is one that we cannot survive without. Unfortunately, the Earth’s supply of fresh water is rapidly diminishing. In fact, less than 1% of the planet’s water is suitable for drinking. It can seem overwhelming if you don’t know where to start making changes, but you can begin in your own home. Even small changes can have a significantly positive impact. By following more water-wise practices at home, you may just inspire others - and you’ll be teaching your children valuable lessons that they will carry with them for a lifetime. You can turn to the resources listed here for tools, tips, statistics, and more.
Water Conservation Facts and Tips
Getting started with water conservation in your home is easy, you just need to know where you can cut down your consumption and how to go about doing it. You can trust the following resources to provide you with excellent advice and helpful tips for ways you and your family can scale back your water usage at home. You’ll be playing a vital role in conserving this precious resource for future generations - and you’ll save some money on your water bill, too.
U.S. EPA Water Conservation Page – The United States Environmental Protection Agency keeps this page loaded with information and advice for conserving water. This is a great place to start if you’re just learning about the importance of water conservation. You’ll find statistics, tips, and links to other relevant government pages.
American Water Works Association – The AWWA is a community dedicated to providing resources to help people conserve water. You’ll find information about all kinds of water conservation related issues like drought, and learn more about water purification systems and procedures.
Water Conservation Facts – This page from National Geographic lists some fascinating factoids about water conservation, including a timeline of water-related legislature in the U.S.
25 Ways to Conserve Water – Earth Easy is a site all about sustainable living and conserving resources. Check out this list of easy and effective things you can do to cut down your own water usage.
49 Ways to Stop Water Waste – This tip page from American Water & Energy features 49 ways you can help stop water waste in your home. Implementing even a few of them can have significant impact on your overall level of water consumption.
Water Conservation for Kids
It’s our responsibility to teach kids the importance of water conservation and to empower them to help solve the problem of water shortage. Check out the sites in this section for games, tutorials, lessons, and more fun ways for kids to learn about where water comes from, how it is used (and wasted), and what they can do to save water in their own home.
Simple Ways to Save Water – This fun site was created by the U.S. EPA to help teach kids how they can help to stop water waste. There are lessons and games, and even a section for teachers.
Kids Water Conservation Corner – The City of San Diego created this site to give local children access to resources to help them be more water-conscious. While some of the information is area-specific, you’ll find plenty of great stuff for kids living anywhere.
5 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Water Conservation – This article has some really great hands-on ideas for teaching children about saving water. It’s not just for young children either; there are sections for teens and tweens as well.
Water Conservation Games for Kids – This page is filled with fun games like Tip Tank and Mission H2O that kids can play while learning key concepts about preserving and protecting the planet’s water supply.
DC Water Kids – These kid-friendly resources come from DC Water, Washington DC’s water and sewer department. There are activities, games, and a free downloadable workbook.
Conservation Tools and Equipment
Use the tools provided on the sites below to help you become more conservation-savvy. There’s a free calculator you can use to figure out just how much water your family uses each day. There’s also a cost chart to show you how much even a small leak can cost in the long run, and a real time drought map for the entire U.S. Also included here is a trustworthy site where you can purchase products designed to help people cut down water use.
Water Usage Calculator – Use this handy tool to figure out how much water you and your family use at home. This is a key first step in implementing a real and lasting water-saving plan.
Water Conservation Products and Tools – Niagara Conservation makes things to help you save water. From timers and shower meters to toilet fill diverters and dye tablets, you’ll find lots of simple and useful tools to help you track and change your family’s wasteful water habits.
Leaks and Their Costs – This simple table, from the New York City government pages, illustrates just how much that leaky faucet or running toilet costs. You may be surprised at how quickly it adds up.
U.S. Drought Map – This map keeps a running tab on water shortages throughout the United States. It can be a real eye-opener, and is a valuable tool in helping to make a water-wise landscaping plan.
Water Conservation In Your Backyard
One of the biggest sources of water consumption comes from outside the home. Millions of gallons are used to maintain lawns and gardens but, according to the EPA, these numbers could be cut in half if people follow more water-wise landscaping practices. There are some small but effective steps you can take toward creating a water-friendly landscape, like setting your sprinklers to come on at night and cutting the grass on a slightly higher mower setting than usual. Or if you want to take your water conservancy to the next level, you can overhaul your yard completely and install native plants in lieu of grass. Use the sites below to help guide you in your efforts to reduce the amount of water you use on your property.
Create a Water Wise Landscape – Better Homes & Gardens provides this article, which runs through several ways you can redesign your home’s landscaping to use less water.
What Is Xeriscaping? – If you really want to cut your outdoor water usage dramatically, think about xeriscaping. This article from Colorado State University explains the water-wise landscaping practice and outlines some excellent tips and advice for those considering it.
Landscaping Without Grass: 21 Photos – One major way that many homeowners are changing their landscaping to be more water friendly is by eliminating or reducing the size of their lawns. Not having a lawn doesn’t mean your home will be drab or unattractive. Quite the contrary, actually, and the photos on this page will prove it.
Top 10 Ways to Conserve Water – Check out this article from Organic Gardening magazine for some easy-peasy ways you can start reducing your lawn and garden water usage without compromising the health and beauty of your landscape.
Natural Lawn Care Tips – One of the big problems with water is that we are rapidly polluting what little supply we do have with toxic chemicals. Switching to organic, non-toxic fertilizers and eco-friendly methods is a huge step toward protecting and preserving our most vital resource.
