Clean water should not be taken for granted! Read the tips below and start practicing water conservation throughout your house.
In the Bathroom
- Take shorter showers.
- Draw less water for baths, try only filling tub halfway.
- Don't use the toilet as a trash can: tissues, cotton balls, etc, should be thrown in the garbage, not flushed.
- Turn off water while brushing teeth.
- Tell Mom or Dad if you notice a leaky faucet
- ACTIVITY: Ask your parents to help you check your toilet for "silent" leaks by placing a little food coloring in the tank and see if it leaks into the bowl.
In the Kitchen or Laundry
- Remind your parents to only run the dishwasher for full loads
- Don't let the faucet run to get a cold drink, keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead.
- Remind your parents to only run the washing machine for a full load of clothes.
- ACTIVITY: Make signs to remind your parents and siblings about turning off the faucet. Use the tips you've learned and ask for your parents' permission to place reminder signs around the house.
Outdoors
- Remind Mom and Dad to only water the lawn and garden when it needs it. One inch of water every 10 days keeps lawns healthy and green. Water at cooler times like at night or early in the morning to prevent evaporation.
- Adjust water sprinklers so that they are reaching the garden and lawn rather than watering the driveway or sidewalk.
- Remind your parents to cut the grass at least 3 inches high to shade the roots, so that it will be more drought tolerant and won't need to be watered as often.
- When helping wash the car or your bicycle use a bucket and a hose with a nozzle so that water isn't running during soaping.
- Sweep the driveway and sidewalk with a broom rather than hosing it down.
- ACTIVITY: make a rain gauge out of a 1 inch tall tuna can and measure water collected from rain and sprinklers. Remind your parents to water less if the can fills up in less than 10 days!