Evidently the water crisis, which sits under the umbrella of climate change, is intimidating and far-reaching. Thankfully, we can take action by holding ourselves accountable for the water we personally consume. Keep reading for tips to conserve and maintain healthy water at home, and take the quiz to determine your current water footprint and learn how to minimize it.
|
-
Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
- Check your pump. If you have a well at your home, listen to see if the pump kicks on and off while the water is not in use. If it does, you have a leak.
-
Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds moisture in the soil better than a closely-clipped lawn.
- Xeriscaping. Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they don’t need to be watered as frequently and can usually survive a dry spell without any watering.
“The word xeriscape is derived from the Greek word xeros meaning dry; xeriscaping literally means dry landscaping”
– Land Stewardship Centre
Click here to more about xeriscaping: https://www.westcoastseeds.com/blogs/garden-wisdom/xeriscaping
- Eat less meat. Rearing animals for meat and dairy is incredibly water-intensive. By cutting down on the amount of meat you eat, you can reduce your water footprint drastically.
-
Change your shopping habits. Practically everything you buy, use and consume has a water footprint because it took water to process and transport it. Try not to buy things you don’t need, and if you need it, try to find it locally or in a thrift shop.
- Capture and make the most of your water use. While waiting for hot water to shower or if you’re rinsing veggies, catch the cool water in a bucket. That water can be used for your plants, pets or cleaning.
What’s your impact?
Follow the link to determine your personal water footprint using the Water Footprint Calculator. (Note for all those living in Canada, you’ll have to select the “state” you live in!) https://www.watercalculator.org/