How Water Conservation Aids in the Fight Against Pollution

Every day, it is essential for us to think about how we can continue to fight against pollution while saving energy and money. Last week, we talked about the importance of creating an energy-saving plan. We provided some examples of appliances that your family or business can utilize to help save the planet.

We are now in the middle of summer, which comes with backyard barbecues, poolside lounging, and sun-filled hikes. With this also comes the responsibility of staying water conscious. Today, we will be talking about the importance of water conservation and how it aids in the fight against pollution. You still have a few weeks to take the Reduce Energy Use DC pledge HERE.

So, let's talk about some ways to conserve water and how that keeps the environment as healthy as possible.
Ten simple ways to conserve water:

1. Check faucets for leaks – this one is important, as even a tiny drip can waste 50 or more gallons of water a day.
2. Take short showers and draw less water for baths.
3. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth – pro-tip: before brushing, wet your brush and fill a glass of water for rinsing your mouth.
4. Install a water-efficient showerhead (2.5 gallons or less per minute).
5. Run your washing machine with a full load of clothes.
6. Wash your clothes with warm water instead of hot, rinse with cold water instead of warm. It is always best to wash with cold water when you can.
7. When possible, hang your wash out to dry.
8. Try to water plants only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation. During mornings, less water is lost to evaporation. Thus, plants need lesser water.
9. Insulate your pipes. We waste a lot of water waiting for the shower water to turn hot. Insulating pipes can help avoid wasting water as insulating promotes faster heating.
10. Defrost food in the refrigerator instead of using running water.

Why do we do this? Reducing our water usage reduces the energy required to process and deliver it to homes, businesses, farms, and communities, which, in turn, helps to reduce pollution and conserve fuel resources. In addition, using water-saving techniques can save you money and diverts less water from our rivers, bays, and estuaries, which helps keep the environment healthy.

You can save more than hundreds and thousands on water every year by practicing basic water conservation tips. You will also be contributing to a cleaner environment. It is a win-win.

If you found these tips helpful, you can sign the Reduce Energy Use DC pledge here.