Drought or No Drought: Water Conservation Choices You Should Be Making

As World Water Week comes to a close, I thought it would be good to provide a little more information and tips about water conservation choices you should be making…regardless of whether your area is afflicted by drought or not. Here in California, we are experiencing a severe drought. With 2013/2014 state rainfall totals estimated to have reached a record low, water conservation in our state is a must. Individuals living in other states and areas would also be wise to make water-smart choices. Drought or no drought, water conservation is something we all need to practice.

This infographic lays out a number of choices you can make to effectively reduce your water footprint:

Conserving water can be done in a number of ways. Fixing leaky pipes, using a low-flow shower head, turning off the water as you soap up, and more are all ways you can cut down on unnecessary water waste. When it comes to your garden and yard, opt for more drought-friendly plants and create a landscape that will thrive naturally without the need for excess water. Dietary changes can also make a difference in water consumption, as can other purchase you make. There are many different sites with sound water conservation tips, so there is no shortage of information you can use to become more water conscious. Even the most basic actions can have a profound effect:

• Washing only full loads of laundry can save up to 50 gallons of water per week
• Turning off the water while you brush your teeth can save about 2.5 gallons of water per minute
• Opting to sweep your driveway or sidewalk rather than hose it down can save up to 150 gallons each time
• Watering your lawn 1-2 times per week rather than daily can save up to 840 gallons per week

Being water wise is not only a good choice, it is a vital option. The more aware we become of our surroundings and the effect our actions have on the environment around us, the bigger the difference we can make.

Lake image by Luke Detwiler via Flickr Creative Commons license.