Water is a precious resource, and it is vital to our everyday lives. We use water to cook, clean, relax, and to hydrate. Without water we could not survive for even one day. So, it comes as no surprise that many people are looking for more and more ways to conserve water usage. Unfortunately, this leads to water conservation myths.
Not only it is a necessary resource but saving water can also save us money. But are there things you could be doing that are unintentionally wasting water? Are there some household chores that you believe wastes water but actually saves it? Let’s take a look at some of the most common water conservation myths.
Running the Dishwasher Wastes Water
Once upon a time this may have been true. However, in recent years dishwashers have become more efficient while using less water. Even for a small load of dishes, it is actually better to run the dishwasher that to wash your dishes by hand. While you will use some electricity in the process, you will inevitably save several gallons of water as washing by hand requires you to scrub harder and longer in order to remove all the gunk and food bits that are left behind on dirty pots and pans and other dishes.
Long Showers Do not Matter
This one is rather obvious, but the longer you are in the shower the more water you are using. Studies have shown that in 8 minutes in the shower, 17 gallons of water has been used. If you are using a low flow shower head, you will use less water but will deal with less shower pressure. As more and more households turn to overhead rain style showerheads, even more water will be used. While the spa-like experience might be relaxing and certainly enjoyable, if saving money and conserving water are heavy on your mind, you are better off without this style. And if you must be in the shower for an extended period of time, try turning off the water while you lather up.
It is Better to Stay Ahead of the Laundry by Doing it More Often
This may keep your laundry baskets from overflowing, but regularly running small loads of laundry will increase your water usage and your water bill at the same time. If you can afford it, try upgrading your machine to one that is labeled HE, or High Efficiency. These machines are manufactured to run using less water. Another bonus is that they also require less detergent, so you can stretch your dollar there as well. And try not to get so ahead of the laundry that you never run the machine at full capacity. This way you make sure to really take advantage of every gallon of water in the machine. It may mean that you have larger loads of laundry to fold and put away at a time, but at least they won’t be as frequent as before.
In Conclusion
Whatever the situation, there are always ways to conserve water. If you are looking for more ideas around your home, contact Conyers Plumbing for more ideas on how you can conserve water, help the environment, and save yourself a little extra money as well.
