10 Tips to Stop Wasting Water this Summer

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Stop Wasting Water this Summer

It’s summertime, and you know what that means! Sprinklers, pools, slip ‘n slides, and of course watering those lovely looking flowers. However, with more and more areas facing a continuing drought crisis, it’s becoming even more important to try and save water, instead of spreading it around. Sure, a bird bath is a wonderful attraction, but you can attract those same birds with the right seeds.

Today, the average family tends to use about 320 gallons of water daily. That’s a whole lot of juice, and a surprising amount is unnecessary. Your lawn doesn’t really need to be watered every day, especially if it’s a day that’s calling for rain.  So consider implementing these tips to stop wasting water this summer!

1. Prep your Grass
Prep it for drought survival, that is. If you really feel like you need to water your lawn, don’t do it in the middle of the day. That only increases the amount of evaporation you’ll experience. Instead, aim for early morning or late evening – this will allow the ground to absorb more. Before you grab the hose, though, make sure it even needs to be watered. If your grass still springs back when you step on it, it doesn’t need water. Additionally, it’s not really meant to be bright green in the summer, so let it dry out and brown some.

2.  Fix that Leak
Anywhere you have a leaky faucet, you’re wasting water. Checking for leaks on a regular basis can help you to prevent excessive water waste, and keeps your water bill lower as well. A dye test – where you drop some dye into the back of your toilet and see if it goes into the bowl, can help you detect a silent leak that can cost thousands of gallons.

3. Go Native
A native flower garden has several advantages over a garden with a lot of non-native varieties. Not to mention, there are some plants that are illegal. Keeping the invasive plants off your lawn doesn’t exactly require a degree in environmental law, but it is important to do your research. Besides, the native plants are designed to do well in their environment, so they’ll be more drought tolerant.

4.  Harvest your Water
A rain barrel is a great way to stock up on some water for your home. You don’t necessarily need to plan to use it to bathe or drink, but it can be a great, easy substitute for watering your plants and lawn.

5. Avoid Bottled Water
Bottled water is, in general, a bit of a scam. It doesn’t need to go through all the testing and checking that tap water does, it is significantly more expensive, and it’s generally not as clean. Invest in a BPA-free water bottle to take with you when you’re on the go.

6. Use the Dishwasher
Washing dishes by hand uses significantly more water than a dishwasher, especially if you’re using an energy efficient model. These models can use as little as 3 gallons of water, and you can also cut it down by not pre-rinsing your dishes before they go in.

7. Hit up an (Automated) Car Wash
Washing your car in your driveway can use 100+ gallons of water. However, running through an automated car wash can use less than half that amount. If you have a four person family, with one car for each person, switching over to a car wash can save as much as 200 gallons of water every time the cars get washed.

8. Keep the Pool Covered
If you have a backyard pool, it can be tempting to leave it uncovered when it’s not in use. However, that will increase the evaporation of the water in the pool, leaving you responsible for filling it back up.

9. Shorten your Showers
Shorter showers are a great, easy way to use less water. Taking just two minutes off the shower time for each person in your family can save over 1,000 gallons of water a year. All in all, that’s not a bad deal, especially since you won’t feel so bad on those sick days when you stay in the shower a bit longer.

10. Eliminate Waste
Lastly, do your part in the community. Keep your eyes open for leaking pipes, hydrants, and other areas for public water. It’s also nice to keep an eye out for leaks your neighbors might develop as well.

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Sandy J Duncan
Sandy Duncan is completing her Doctorate in Integrative Medicine, a health and wellness coach, Certified Neurofeedback specialist and author of AllNaturalHealthReviews.org. Read honest reviews on current health and wellness products as well as register for FREE giveaways.