14 Ways to Reduce Water Waste

Happy World Water Day! You can help protect our planet by reducing the amount of water you use. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 14 things to do in your life to reduce water waste.

1. Thrift your clothes

Did you know that it takes 2700 litres of water to make the average t-shirt? Jeans are even worse — one pair takes 7500 litres. Avoid purchasing new clothes whenever possible to help save water. 

2. Install low-flow fixtures

Save water and money by installing low-flow toilets, shower heads, and faucets. For a household of four people, this means over tens of thousands of litres saved per year.

3. Turn off the tap while washing your face, brushing your teeth, and shaving

Don’t think that keeping the tap on while doing these things takes up that much water? Plug the drain sometime and see just how much is collected in the sink. Multiply that over 365 days, likely a few times a day. That’s a lot of water!

4. Aerate your lawn

Ensure as much rain water as possible soaks into your lawn by periodically aerating it. Not only will you save water, you will also put less effort into watering your lawn.

5. If it’s yellow, let it mellow

Depending on your toilet, each flush uses 6-26 litres of water. Resist flushing your toilet whenever possible.

6. Save leftover ice

Have leftover ice in a bowl or cup? Instead of dumping it in the sink, let it melt and use the water to hydrate your plants!

7. Get a rain barrel

Save rain water and use it to water your garden, indoor plants, and lawn.

8. Fix leaks

One drip per second equates to 19 litres of water per day. Check inside and outside your home to ensure no water is leaking.

9. Don’t use more dishes than you need

More dishes means more washing. Not only does that mean extra time and effort, it also means extra wasted water. Your dinner tastes just as good served in the pot it was made in as it does in your fancy serving bowl.

10. Reuse your pasta boiling water

Cooking pasta (or vegetables)? Let the water cool and use it to water your plants.

11. Avoid mid-day plant and lawn watering

Extra water is evaporated when you water your plants and yard in high-heat. The most efficient time to do outdoor watering is during low-heat.

12. Shorten your showers

A blast of cold water in the morning can be refreshing and naturally shortens your shower time. Alternatively, try turning off the shower while soaping up.

13. Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when full

Don’t waste water by running loads that aren’t full. This will save water and time by cutting down on the number of loads you do.

14. Put a weighted bottle in your toilet tank

Ultimately, a high-efficiency toilet is best, but that’s not a realistic option for everyone. If your toilet is an old, water-sucking one (from around 1990 or earlier), place a weighted bottle in the tank to decrease the amount of water used with each flush.