There are three areas in the house where maximum water usage occur- the kitchen, the laundry, and the bathroom . Outside the house, in the plants and the garden. And therefore the greater need of savings arises.

Kitchen

The kitchen uses around 10% of total household water consumption for cooking , cleaning , washing or drinking.
Washing the dishes

• Cleaning utensils by hand, under running tap water utilizes around 60L of water during every clean. And to save water  you can go for
• 2 sink system- If you have two sinks, fill one up with water. Rinse the dishes in them rather than under a running tap.
• If you have only one sink, stack the washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a pan of hot water. Majourity of the household uses a domestic help and these house maids needs to be explained to
• Use washing up liquid sparingly as this will reduce the amount of rinsing required when washing dishes by hand.
• To prevent the high water flow (which seems to be the regular complaint) and water wastage install ‘Flow controlled aerators’ for taps.
• Insulate hot water pipes. This avoids wasting water while waiting for hot water to flow through and saves energy.
• Make sure your hot water system thermostat is not set too high.
• Operate automatic dishwashers only when they are fully loaded.
• Check your water meter to see if there are any leaks. If it is spinning and there’s no water being used, there is probably an undetected leak somewhere.

Cooking

• Defrosting- Don’t use running water to defrost frozen food. Ideally place food in refrigerator to defrost overnight or  if you are short on time, use the microwave instead of placing them under running water.
• Wash vegetables in a bowl, not under a running tap. Soaking vegetables makes them easier to peel. A running tap wastes 10 litres  a minute.  Catch  the dripping water and  use it to water the plants or flush the toilets.
• Boiling the food- When boiling vegetables, use enough water to cover them and keep the lid on the saucepan. The most water efficient methods for cooking vegetables are microwaving, steaming or using a pressure cooker. Your vegetables will boil quicker and it will save you water, power and preserve precious vitamins in the food. You can also cut down on water loss by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.

Laundry

15-20% of all water consumed in the home is used in the laundry, making this room a high consumer of not only water but  also energy and detergents. Therefore one of the most important points to consider in this area of the house is the  Washing Machine. Here are a few tips to remember:-

• Consider buying a water efficient front loading washing machine.
• Double Check its water efficiency performance  before buying.
• Operate the washing machine only when it is  fully loaded.

Bathroom

• Nearly half of all water consumed in the home is used in the bathroom. And20% of that water is flushed down the toilet.
  Bath
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or while shaving.  Use a glass of water instead and save 11L liters of water per brushing.
• Use bucket instead of shower and you save 50 Liters of water per person.
• Take shorter showers. 5 minute showers save more than 56L of water per person.
• Install a new water-efficient showerhead. It saves on hot water energy costs.

Toilet

• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than flushing it down.
• Check for toilet tank leaks by adding water soluble  coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes.
• Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints inside and outside of your home.
• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 3000 litres per year.

Gardening

• Water plants in the evening to avoid the water evaporating. Always use a watering can rather than a hose.
• A hosepipe left running for one hour will use as much water as most of us need during a whole week.
• Outdoor plants in pots use a lot more water than plants in the ground. They are more exposed to sun and wind, and  they dry out faster to minimize water for your garden, if possible reduce your pot plants.
• Pot plants on terraces and small spaces should be placed together and in shade over Summer.
• Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water .
• Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hoses can pour out 100 litres in only a few hours, so don't leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn it off.
• Use a bucket while washing your car and always use a hose with a shut off nozzle when rinsing and save 19L of water  per minute.. If you wash your own car, park on the grass to do so.
• Create an awareness of the need for water conservation among your children. Avoid the purchase of recreational water toys which require a constant stream of water
• Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water conscious community. Promote water conservation in community newsletters, on bulletin boards and by example.
• Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Don't waste water just because someone else is footing the bill such as when you are staying at a hotel.

· At work

• Report dripping taps to the housekeeping department - a dripping tap can waste 10 000 litres  of water a year;
• Don't forget to turn the tap off properly after washing your hands. A dripping tap wasting as low as 30 drops of water per
  minute could add upto to 4,500 litres  per year.
• Encourage your employer to promote water conservation at the workplace. Suggest that water conservation be put in the employee orientation manual and training program.