Summer Lovin’, Had Me a Splash – Conserving Water This Summer

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Water is a finite resource

Well, the sun is finally here after the long winter, and the weather is heating up! That can mean a lot of things – gardening, swimming, washing all of that winter grime off the car, and playing in the sprinklers. But unfortunately, that can also mean a lot of water wasted. According to National Geographic, less than 1% of all water on the planet is drinkable. With such a finite amount of fresh water on this planet, it is so important to conserve as much of it as we can. Here are twelve things you can do to save some water while still having some fun in the sun this summer!

 

 

 

1. When mowing your lawn, set the lawn mower height to 1.5 to 2 inches. Taller grass offers more shade to the roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass, so it doesn’t need to be watered as often.’

2. After mowing, leave the clippings on the grass. It cools the ground and holds in moisture.

3. Avoid water toys that use a constant stream of water, like sprinklers. Or, if you would like to use them, play in an area of the lawn that needs watering.

4. If you have a pool, use a pool cover. Not only will it keep your pool clean (and you’ll use fewer chemicals), but it will also help prevent water loss through evaporation.

5. Don’t overfill your pool. If the water level is lower, less will be lost because of splashing. Less splashing = less refilling!

6. And, when you’re done in the pool, be sure to use your towels more than once. Fewer loads of laundry, and less water used.

7. Wash your car on an area of the lawn that already needs watering. Or, even better, bring it to a commercial car wash that recycles their water!

8. If you are going to wash your car at home, either use a hose nozzle attachment, or turn off the water while you’re washing your car. Do this and you’ll save 100 gallons every time you wash your car!

9. Instead of washing your pets in the bathtub, kill two birds with one stone and get them all fresh and clean on an area of the lawn that needs watering anyway.

10. Use a broom to sweep away dirt, gravel and debris from the sidewalk, driveways or patios. Using a hose just wastes water unnecessarily.

11. Maybe you need a nice, cool drink of water after all that sweeping. Well, you can keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge, instead of running the tap until the water cools down. That way, the water goes into your glass, not down the drain.

12. Done with the ice from that cool drink of water? You can put them in a houseplant to give them a nice cool-off too!

 

Now that you’ve conserved all that water, you can enjoy your summer knowing that you helped the earth’s freshwater supply. Happy Summer!

 

Sources:

National Geographic – Earth’s Freshwater: https://nationalgeographic.org/media/earths-fresh-water/

Water – Use it Wisely: http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/?view=list

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