With floods and continuous rainfalls occurring in Metro Manila, the situation of our dams are still the same. Water supply continues to be rationed in some parts of the metro. Low-pressure areas entering our zones, hopeful that this could help fill water in some to our dams that have been hitting critical level. Although more rains are still to come, this event is a call for us to start smartly conserving and reducing our water usage.
Whether you are ready to cut back on your showers or watering your plants, there are lots of big and small ways that you can do to conserve water around your home. Here are some tips:
1. Turn off the tap while brushing the teeth/washing hands
Most people leave the water running from the faucet while brushing their teeth or washing their hands. Leave it off until it’s time to rinse. This can save you at least 6 liters of water per minute.
2. Take shorter showers/bath
Taking a shower or bath can use an average of 45 liters of water per minute. Limit your time in the shower, make it sweet and water-saving. Also, switching to an efficient shower head will allow you to lather up in less water.
3. Reuse bathwater for flushing
It is common to a Filipino household to have a bucket and dipper in the bathrooms. Instead of letting the water pour down the drain, place your bucket under while having a shower. You can reuse the water for flushing the toilet, or even watering your plants.
4. Store rainwater
Harvesting rainwater and use it for watering plants manually can cut your water use by an average of 33%. And your plants will thank you for hydrating them with rainwater rather than treated tap water.
5. Load up your dishwasher or washing machine until it’s full
This will help you unnecessary washes in between.
6. Fix dripping pipes, faucets and hoses
A dripping tap can waste 15 liters of water a day. Plus it can make your water bill spike up. Have your pipes checked by a plumber regularly. This will give you big water savings.
Even in small ways, if everyone takes part of the responsibility to efficiently save water, it can make a big difference.
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