How To Save Water In Daily Life: 100 Simple Ways

Water is a vital natural resource for life on Earth. It is impossible to think of life without water.
We need to conserve water or at least avoid draining it meaninglessly. Water scarcity can massively disrupt our lives if we do not value it.
In this blog post, we have shared 15 easy ways to save water in daily life for a brighter future.
Page Contents
What Do You Mean By Water Conservation?
Water Conservation is the practice of using water resources responsibly. The motto behind ‘save water’ doesn’t mean a compromised lifestyle, whereas it pressurizes on no water waste living.
It refers to protecting water sources, freshwater bodies, groundwater, practising rainwater harvesting, adopting a good habit, etc.
In simple words, it means using water without wasting it, not polluting water bodies, practising groundwater conservation, choosing water-efficient appliances, raising awareness about water, educating family members, practising rainwater harvesting, and more.
You can still save litres of water in a day without affecting your regular lifestyle. It demonstrates a lifestyle with no or minimum water waste.
Why We Need To Save Water In Daily Life?
Water (freshwater) is an essential but finite natural resource that is diminishing. Research shows, only 3% of 71% of Earth’s water is actually freshwater, which can be considered as suitable for human use.
Of 3% of total freshwater, 2.5% is unavailable or difficult to reach. Eventually, the very small portion which is 0.5% of 71% of total water is available for human use.
Due to the increasing population and demand for water supply, water scarcity has become a rapidly growing concern in India.
In simple words, we need to conserve water because it is finite and will come to an end if we can’t control our irresponsible use. Water has an important role in making life possible on the planet.
- Living things including, humans, animals, reptiles, birds, trees, plants, flowers, marine life, etc., need water to survive.
- We need water to do agriculture irrigation to grow food crops.
- It demands water to do industrial work.
- Individuals need water to do their daily tasks such as brushing, bathing, shaving, etc.
- Household works like cooking, washing dishes, washing clothes, cleaning floors, etc., use water to get the job done.
How To Save Water In Daily Life?
In India, where water scarcity is a growing concern, your small efforts in daily life can make a big difference. Here are 100 simple ways you can incorporate into your everyday routine to save water effectively.
- Replace older showerheads with advanced water-saving showerheads.
- Turn off the faucet when soaping your hand.
- Finish your shower in under 5 minutes. Less time in the shower means less water use.
- Use a good soap and shampoo while showering that could rinse off with less water.
- Fix, fix, and fix leakages of showerheads, toilets, pipes, etc.
- Be a water-efficient safe to conserve water while cooking.
- Turn off the shower when soaping or lathering.
- After shaving rinse off the razor in the sink instead of running the faucet.
- Take a navy shower and save a few litres of water ever time.
- Participate in water conservation squads and do some groundwork.
- Use a shower bucket to shower rather than showering from direct showerheads.
- Don’t play much with water in the summer.
- When shaving, turn off the shower when no use.
- Choose an advanced and efficient way for agricultural irrigation.
- Use effective shaving cream to reduce the water use.
- Avoid running a half-full washing machine.
- Shower Together! Share the shower with your partner.
- Keep the stored water away from the direct sun.
- Rethink your shower frequency. Do you really need a shower daily?
- Invest in water-efficient home appliances.
- Install Leakage detector devices to find hidden leakages in your home.
- Check the water meter regularly and compare it with the previous month.
- Don’t throw trash such as paper towels, cigarette waste, etc., in the toilet base which requires water to flush away.
- When washing your shoes clear the dirt with a sponge or brush at first, then use water.
- Put a water displacement device in your toilet tank to reduce the volume of water for each flush.
- Avoid using hair gels that require some extra amount of water to get off.
- Replace the worn flapper valve with a new one. The worn or broken flapper valve may not close tightly. This results in water waste.
- To water your flower pots use a bottle spray.
- Adjust the water level of the toilet tank to its minimal level.
- Use a minimal amount of detergents in the washing machine and dishwasher.
- Change the damaged filler valve of the toilet tank. The filler valve controls the flow of water into the toilet tank after each flush. If it becomes worn or damaged, it may not shut off properly which leads to excessive water in the tank. This can result in overfilled tank, which leads to water waste.
- Don’t use chemical products like shampoo, soaps, chemical fertilizers, etc., that can contaminate fresh water.
- Switch to low-flow toilets that save water in each flush.
- Learn handwashing techniques for dishwashing to use less water than the dishwasher.
- Choose dual-flush toilets that offer two options to flush. Half-flush which is better for liquid waste and full-flush for solid waste.
- Collect and reuse the water that has been used to boil the pasta.
- Consider Composting Toilets. Composting toilets are a water-saving alternative to traditional flush toilets as they do not require water for waste removal. Instead, they utilize natural processes to decompose and convert human waste into compost.
- Install aerators on the faucets to control the water flow.
- Avoid unnecessary flushing or flushing when there is no need.
- Bring large rain barrels into your home compound to collect rainwater and use it for non-consumable purposes.
- Scrape off excess or waste food from plates before dishwashing.
- To bathe your pet consider a bucket and a cup.
- Don’t let the food particles dry on vessels that will require some extra water to get off.
- Invest in efficient technologies for watering the garden.
- Turn off the Tap when there is no use while dish-washing like scraping, scrubbing, soaping, etc.
- When having a meal, avoid using unnecessary plates, bowls, cups, spoons, and other utensils that will require water to wash.
- Use hot water to remove tough stains from the utensils.
- Avoid overfilling the bathtub.
- In the shower, while waiting for hot water store the initial cold water in a bucket. Don’t let the water go to the drain without the use of it.
- Choose drought-resistant plants for landscaping.
- Pre-soaking tough stains makes them easy to clean and it also saves water while scrubbing and rinsing.
- Teach children to turn off faucets tightly that don’t flow even a single drip.
- Wash In Batches. Washing a group of dishes is going to take less water than washing one at a break.
- Consider watering your indoor plants with ice cubes.
- Switch to low-flow faucets.
- Before watering the lawns and gardens use a rain gauge to measure natural precipitation.
- Instead of holding dishes under running water to clean them by water force, use a brush or sponge to scrub away dirt and grime.
- Insulate your water heater to reduce water loss as evaporation.
- Use eco-friendly dishwashing soap or detergents.
- Repair leaks in the irrigation systems.
- Running a partial or half-empty dishwasher can waste energy and water. So it is always better to wait until the dishwasher gets fully loaded.
- Choose a water-efficient cooling system.
- Avoid pre-rinsing while dishwashing with the dishwasher.
- Maintain your cooler in good condition.
- Repair and keep your dishwasher in good condition.
- Consider handwashing your small clothes and accessories like underwear, socks, handkerchiefs, etc., instead of running the washing machine for them.
- Choose a highly efficient dishwasher to save water and energy.
- Keep your water bottle tight to avoid leakages.
- Consider hand washing when there are fewer dishes to wash.
- Maintain a water-efficient cycle in your home.
- While brushing, rinse your mouth with a bottle of water instead of running a faucet.
- Ask to join your family members in a water-efficient lifestyle.
- Fill the bathtub with a minimal amount of water that covers your body.
- Share and take water-saving tips and advice with friends, family, and loving neighbours.
- Water your plants and flowers in the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.
- After boiling the potatoes, re-use the water for outdoor purposes.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Give participation in the water conservation programs run by governments, NGOs, or any local person.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
- Teach your baby, not to waste water in the school.
- Practice rainwater harvesting and collect rainwater in a barrel.
- Provide a straw with the water bottle to your nursery baby so the baby can drink water without wasting it.
- Shade your water pool in daylight to minimize evaporation.
- Inform the water supplier immediately when your water tank is overflowing and wasting water.
- Reuse the water that comes after washing fruits and vegetables to water your indoor plants, flowers, toilets, etc.
- Reduce shower time to 5 minutes.
- Check your toilet leaks by adding food colour to the tank.
- Mulch garden beds to retain moisture.
- Educate your children about the importance of water in our lives and encourage them to practice water conservation.
- Defrost food in the refrigerator instead of using running water.
- Buy a high-efficiency washing machine to conserve water and energy in every load.
- Limit the use of garbage disposals.
- Use a shower timer to track your shower time.
- Consider synthetic grass for lawns.
- Use a timer when watering your garden to avoid overwatering.
- Don’t overfill pet bowls.
- Bath less, prefer shower more.
- Install a water-efficient sprinkler system.
- While cleaning your car use a bucket of water and a sponge instead of running a water hose.
- Wash your car in the shop where they recycle used water.
- Don’t waste drinking water by taking excessive amounts of time.
- When gardening, remove full trousers and uppers that will possibly to contact with soil and take dirt on it, increasing the water demand to wash.
- Consume water-rich fruits and salads.
- Remember, to conserve water effectively, habits are crucial. So work on it!
- Start living a water-efficient life and inspire others to do the same.
What Are The Benefits Of Water Conservation?
There are several benefits of saving water in daily life:
- Water Conservation Can Save Lives: Water (freshwater) is an essential and limited resource for humans and other lives on Earth. We need water to drink, to cook food, to do our daily jobs, and to live a happy convenient life.
- Reduce Your Water Bill: Practicing water conservation leads to avoiding water wastage and promoting more responsibility for the use of the resource, which can directly reduce the cost of monthly payable water bills.
- Delayed Costly Water Supply: Water scarcity is a growing concern. Due to the increase in the scarcity of this precious resource, it is more obvious that we’ll have to pay more money (2x, 3x, 5x,) shortly to get the same gallon of water. However, by taking some proper initiatives regarding water conservation or sustainability it is possible to expand the effects of high-cost water bills on our wallet.
- Saves Energy: Responsible use of water can reduce energy bills by cutting the use of energy on pumping water, heating water for domestic use, and more. And the simple thing is less water uses less energy to heat, avoiding unnecessary use and wastage.
- Good for the Ecosystem: Water conservation prevents the loss of plant and animal species, helps sustain water bodies (rivers, lakes, wetlands), avoids droughts, and preserves crucial ecosystems on our planet.
- It Contributes To a Greener Environment: Water conservation contributes to a greener environment by promoting the efficient use of water, maintaining water sources in better condition, practising efficient irrigation methods, reducing carbon footprint by using less energy to heat the minimal water every time, and more.
- We Can Save Water for Future Generations: Water (freshwater) is a finite and limited natural resource on Earth. While our planet is abundant in water that covers more than 70% of its total surface area, only 3% of water is considered freshwater. The rest is saline water which is not suitable for human consumption or agriculture. Due to population growth, climate change, and an increase in industrial activities, the demand for this limited resource is increasing day by day. As a result, we can see water scarcity in different regions. So, each litre of water you save in your life can be helpful to others’ lives and will be conserved for future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How Long Should I Shower To Save Water?
Taking a five-minute quick shower is a good practice for water conservation. So avoid long showers like 15, 20, or 30 minutes that have no meaning. You can still get well-showered by taking a shorter shower.
Q. Handwashing vs Dishwasher: What Uses More Water?
A water-efficient dishwasher uses less water than Dishwashing by hand. However, it also depends on person to person, some people become more efficient doing hand washing, but many people take an extra amount of water while hand washing rather than washing dishes by dishwasher to clean the same amount of vessels.
Q. How Much Water Can You Save By Taking Shorter Shower By 5 Minutes?
It depends on the flow rate of the showerhead. In general, a standard showerhead uses 8 litres per minute. This means a five-minute reduction in shower duration can save 40 litres (8 x 5) of water.
Q. How Much Water Does a Toilet Use Per Day?
The amount of water a toilet can use per day depends on several factors, including the type of toilet, its flushing mechanism, and the frequency of use. Water use based on toilets are:
Older toilets: Uses 11 to 26 litres per flush. (approx.)
Standard toilets: Uses 6 to 11 litres per flush. (approx.)
Low-flow toilets: Uses 5 litres per flush (approx.
Dual-flush Toilets: Offers choice to flush as per the waste (solid or liquid).
For instance, let’s suppose you have a standard toilet that uses 5 litres per flush and you flush it 10 times a day, then the daily water usage for that toilet will come to 50 litres per day.
Conclusion
Water is precious!
While summarizing, We only want to recognize that water is not just a component of the environment it is more than that.
We have to be a bit conscious and responsible while using the valuable natural asset.
We need to try to save each drip of water from wasting around us. Millions of people are struggling for water in their daily lives – remember that!
So the above are some effective ways that you can incorporate into your daily lives to start saving water.
Author: Pragati Shridhar
Pragati Shridhar is a writer passionate about sustainability. She contributes to Ecosankalp, sharing ideas on eco-friendly living and green business. Her goal is to help people and businesses make better choices for a cleaner, greener future.