Water resources are an essential part of our environment. In addition to the fact that water, like air, is vital, it also contributes to the natural and social development of a region. The greater the demand for water’s economic and technical capabilities, the greater the amount of water resources that society can use at its stage of development. However, this number is not limitless. Improper management of water resources leads to water shortages. According to the United Nations Global Water Development Report (World Water Development Report 2018), today the global demand for water is 4600 km per year, and by 2050 it will increase to 6000 km and the drinking water deficit will reach 40 percent. Such growing shortages may lead to new wars and mass migration of populations to water-rich regions. Today, water is extremely endangered due to the demands of the growing population, agriculture and industry, which has an even worse impact on climate change.
In addition to the important role that the state plays in the proper management of water resources, it is the responsibility of each of us to take care of water in our daily lives and thus, make a significant contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change. Also, the more water a person saves, the more will be left for the plant and animal world, which in turn will ensure the ecological balance of the earth.
We can save water in our daily routines with the following tips:
TURN THE TAP OFF WHILE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH
Do not leave the tap on while brushing your teeth or washing your hands, just turn on the tap when it is time to rinse. We can save up to 10-18 litres of water by doing this.
TAKE A SHOWER INSTEAD OF A BATH
By taking a quick shower instead of a bath, you will be able to save on water and cost.
TAKE QUICK SHOWERS
Every minute of shower time equates to 2 gallons of water. If you shower daily, cutting back your shower time by just a minute could save sixty gallons of water per month. To save water in the shower, aim to get your shower time down to 8 minutes or less. Creating a 7-8 minute shower playlist can serve as a useful reminder of when your shower time is nearing an end.
DO A FULL LOAD OF LAUNDRY
Make sure your washing machine is full so you can save up to 80 litres of water per wash cycle. Use the ECO setting to save water and electricity, this way you will also reduce electricity costs.
BOIL AS MUCH WATER AS NEEDED
Boil only the amount of water you need. Re-boiled water is not recommended and therefore you will have to pour out the remaining water left in the kettle.
FILL THE SINK WITH WARM WATER TO WASH THE DISHES
If you wash dishes by hand, do not turn on the tap for a long time. Instead, fill the sink with warm water to wash the dishes and then use running water to rinse them. In the case of a dishwasher, use the ECO setting to save water and electricity.
FILL SINK OR BOWL WITH WATER TO WASH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Do not wash produce in running water. Instead, fill a sink or bowl with water to wash fruits and vegetables and then use running water to rinse the produce off!
DO NOT MELT FROZEN PRODUCTS UNDER RUNNING WATER
Instead of running water, you can transfer the frozen product from the freezer to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator and defrost it that way.
FIX A LEAKING TAP
Check that the faucet is working properly, and replace it immediately in case it isn’t working properly. A faulty tap loses an average of 15 litres of water per day. This way you will save average of 5 500 litres per year. That`s enough to fill up five and a half fire engines!
Act for the climate and make a significant contribution to mitigating the negative effects of climate change!