For most people, the idea of running out of water seems like a completely foreign concept. Unfortunately, water demand has almost tripled since the early 1950’s. While a great deal of an individual country’s H2O usage is based on dietary preferences and cultural norms towards H2O usage, there are still a number of things that individuals can do on a daily basis to safeguard future H2O supplies.
In The Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most common locations for wasted H2O in the average Toronto household. A great deal of this is associated with constantly running faucets. Not only can dishes be washed in a basin full of H2O as opposed to a running faucet, but fruits and vegetables should be cleaned in the same manner. Additionally, the water used to clean fruits and vegetables can be collected and used to water hanging plants and flowers. Old fish tank water is also an additional high nutrient source of H2O for plants and flowers. Finally, garbage disposals are a major source of wasted H2O. Collecting food waste for composting not only saves the water used to run the garbage disposal, but it provides free fertilizer and nutrient rich soil.
In The Bathroom
The EPA estimates that the average Toronto home can lose up to 10,000 gallons of water every year through leaky bath facilities and faucets. Also according to the EPA, approximately 1 trillion gallons of water are lost every year from homes as a result of household leaks not fixed by your Toronto plumber. A majority of these occurs in the bathroom as a result of improperly installed or maintained hardware.
Aside from eliminating leaks and replacing faulty equipment, water can be saved in the bathroom through the use of water saving shower heads and water conserving toilet tanks. Taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing teeth, and eliminating baths save household water.
In The Garden
Conserving water in the garden does mean growing less or reducing the amount of care offered to plants and lawns. Water conservation in the garden begins with equipment efficiency. Sprinklers should be adjusted so that they are only watering the desired surface area, while lawnmower blades should be set slightly higher as taller grass provides more shade for roots and promotes water conservation.
Patios and walkways are not only an aesthetically pleasing way to increase property values, but they don’t need to be watered. When it comes to watering frequency, many gardening enthusiasts rely on a predetermined watering schedule, leading to overwatering and water waste. Checking soil moisture levels two inches below the surface is the most accurate method of checking a plants water needs.
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