10 Tips on How to Save Water at Home
- Updated article - February 2022
We are in a drought, and we must adjust our practices immediately to cut home water consumption. Not only because we are in a drought, but also because this critical item is both necessary and scarce. Reduce your monthly household expense while being ecologically conscientious. Casas do Barlavento shares ten strategies for saving water at home daily:
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What steps can you take to save water in the bathroom?
- Turn off the water as you soap your hands, brush your teeth, and shave (this will save you between 10 and 30 litres of water a day). You can wash your teeth with a glass of water if you like. You will see that this is the amount of water needed when brushing your teeth.
- Fill a bucket with the first litres of water while you wait for the shower to heat up. You can use that water to clean the floor, water the plants or wash the car.
- Use the sand bottle method in the cistern to use less water for each flush. You can also adjust the flush system to a more environmentally friendly flush by selecting smaller flushes.
4. Use the waste bin in the bathroom. This small act will save you about 15 litres of water in unnecessary flushing and avoid problems in the sewage treatment plants.
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How can you save water in the kitchen?
5. Do not leave the tap running when washing dishes; rather use the covered dishwasher bowl and use the water to rinse the dishes. If you use a dishwasher, you should know that the power of these machines does not require pre-rinsing, so you do not need to rinse the dishes. If your dishwasher is not energy efficient, you should opt for a damp cloth to remove the residue. This measure can save you 75 litres of water. If you want to buy a new appliance, look for the new energy labels with the letters indicating the appliance efficiency, where A is the highest and G is the lowest.
6. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are fully loaded, or choose a shorter and/or more efficient programme that guarantees a specified level of savings.
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How can you save water outside your home?
7. During the hottest months, water plants and gardens at night. Water slowly so that the water can thoroughly absorb into the soil. During the winter months, when plants don't require as much water, keep a spray bottle near and spray the plants to keep the soil moist. If you can collect rainwater in winter, you can use it to water your garden or vegetable crops.
8. Avoid using the hose to wash your car and avoid going to car washes. If you want to use only 50 litres of water instead of 500 litres if you use the hose, use a bucket and a sponge. Only wash your car when essential. Wash the car only when necessary, this is not a basic necessity, so it should be avoided in times of drought.
9. Cover your pool to prevent further water evaporation (this will save you about 3,800 litres of water per month).
10. Be mindful of your consumption. Did you know that a single cup of coffee holds the equivalent of 140 litres of water? And did you know that the manufacture of a single sheet of paper requires 10 litres of water? When you consume an item or food, be mindful of what you are doing. You should also compare the electricity and water bills regularly, and use them to track your home's energy and water consumption.
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The objective is to rationalize your intake and not waste this valuable resource. This will significantly reduce your monthly expenditures, and the environment will thank you!