Wasting Water - A Guide to Conservation and Innovation

Every year on March 22 we celebrate World Water Day. According to the official World Water Day website, this international observance is an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. It has been around since 1992 when the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development recommended an international observance. Here is why you should be mindful of your water usage every day and how you can easily conserve water.

Water Usage in the US

The US Geological Survey released a study which reports that the total freshwater and saline-water withdrawals for 2010 (the latest year it surveyed water use) were estimated to be 355,000 million gallons per day. The average American used 88 gallons of water per day – an amount that quickly adds up around the house for things like preparing food, washing clothes, flushing toilets, and watering lawns. 

Water Innovation around the World

In recent years there have been many new innovative technologies which aid people around the world in gaining clean water access and assist them in conserving water. 

Here are some examples that will leave you wondering why no one has thought of this before:

LifeStraw is the award-winning personal water filter, designed to provide you with safe, clean drinking water. The device makes most contaminated or suspect water safe to drink.  LifeStraws are shipped throughout the world to countries in need including Haiti, Pakistan, and Africa but are also be used for camping or hiking trips.

The EcoVolt uses a bioelectric process to treat water and generate biogas energy at the same time! Each reactor unit handles about 20,000 gallons of waste water daily and leverages electrically active microbes.

Lastly, WaterFX offers a HydroRevolution project which uses solar panels to remove the salt from drainage water from farms in California. The excess salt and minerals are turned into usable by-products.

For more revolutionary water technologies read this great water innovation blog from GreenBiz.

Water Saving Tips

So how can YOU help to conserve water? Sure, there are pricey gadgets such as drip irrigation or on demand water heaters, but saving water is mostly easy and cheap. Here are some great tips we have compiled from our parent company Advanced Energy and the EPA:

Fixing Leaks 

On average, an American home can waste more than 11,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks. Nationwide, more than one trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. A faucet that drips once every second wastes more than 3,000 gallons of water per year!

Image courtesy of EPA.gov

Shower

Every time you take a shower, you also use energy to heat and deliver the water to your showerhead. But you can Shower Better by replacing your  old shower head with a WaterSense labeled model and save water, energy and money.

Laundry

Only wash full loads of laundry. Use the cold water setting for all general laundry. Only use the hot water setting for bedding, soiled or stained clothes, and diapers.

If you wash one load of laundry each day, an ENERGY STAR® labeled washing machine will save between $65 and $175 in energy costs and up to $100 in water each year.

Dishes

Did you know? Pre-rinsing dishes may be unnecessary. Most modern dishwashers only need you to remove large bits of food, making it easier on you and your wallet. 

Water Bill

Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks and determine your water footprint. 

Be aware of your water consumption, prioritize water conservation and after a while it will come naturally. Set an example and make every day World Water Day.