There are many things behind the current surge in interest in alternative water sources, supplies, and products. The substandard quality of municipal drinking water in the U.S. is certainly one of them. So too is the desire for more nutritious and effectively hydrating water, while the imperative that many of us feel today to do something about the environment is a definite cause too.
When we consider this latter concern, the term “water conservation” is never far behind. Water supplies are not infinite, and the sourcing, transportation, and treatment of water is not, at present, a carbon neutral process.
Water conservation, as you probably know, can take many forms and it has led to the plethora of products and home fittings all promising to help you reduce your water wastage. It is quite odd really. On the one hand, there is the constant health advice that too many of us suffer dehydration and we should take care to drink more water, and on the other hand there is the environmental danger that warns us to reduce our water consumption!
However, this problem is a red herring and, in fact, no real problem at all. What needs to be reduced is water wastage – i.e., do you really need to shower running that long, or that much water for the dishes? – and not water consumption (i.e., drinking). Accordingly, we have reduced-flow shower fittings, faucets that can conserve water, and home water treatment products that help us reuse water.
Water Outside the Home
Speaking specifically of water wastage, one of the areas of common water consumption where real conservation can be practiced is in how we use water outside of the home. This means, in the vast majority of cases, the water that we spray through hoses and sprinklers to either tend to our gardens or to wash our cars and home exteriors. The amount of water typically used here is certainly in excess of the amount that could be used to the same level of effectiveness.
How to Conserve Water Outside
Although there are plenty of innovative new products to help you along the way. Much of water conservation comes down to personal diligence and responsibility. In fact, this need not be too difficult at all and there are a range of quite simple tips to follow. Here follows some of them:
Harvest Rainwater
A rain barrel for harvesting rain water is an incredibly cheap way of providing yourself with an outdoor water source for use around the house. This method is as simple as it is 100% sustainable.
Sweep the Driveway Instead of Washing It
Proper care of a driveway or patio will involve the occasional wash, but certainly not always. Sweeping away visible debris will suffice for the majority of regular driveway or patio maintenance.
Cover Your Pool
Synergy Science, a company specializing in water conservation, say that the effect of hot weather on our water consumption is one of the reasons why more efficient hydration is often sought in products such as hydrogen water and so on. The summer also poses the threat of water evaporation from outside spaces, usually from large bodies of water such as swimming pools.
Add Organic Matter When Gardening
Adding organic matter to soil beds will not only make them more fertile but will also increase the water retention of the soil too. This means less water is lost to evaporation or seeping to lower levels.
Helping the environment is something that takes large initiatives from governments, but also a change in personal habits. This latter tactic is something everybody can take part in.