Access to water and sanitation is a human right but how are we consuming this resource in our homes? In a report by World Health Organization and UNICEF in 2021, nearly 2 billion people globally lack reliable access to safely managed drinking water.

Home water use varies considerably, depending upon the number of people in a household, plumbing fixtures, appliances, and other factors. The largest water users in the home are toilets, clothes washers, kitchen taps, and showers. Consider the following actions to conserve water in these areas at home;

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Close the tap and only open it when rinsing. Consider filling a glass of water and use that to rinse your mouth.
• Inspect faucets and pipes regularly for leaks and have them repaired as soon as possible.
• Check all toilets for leaks and have them repaired promptly. A small leak can waste hundreds of liters of water per day.
• Install water-saving fixtures. You can install water-saving fixtures in your home, such as low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. This can help you reduce your water usage by almost 50%.
• Do not run the faucet continuously while washing dishes. If you have a double basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water, or use pans and then pour the leftover water on the lawn or garden.
• Instead of running water from the tap, wash fruits and vegetables, such as leafy greens, in a clean bowl of water, and then rinse under running water or use a salad spinner then reuse it to water houseplants
• Recycle rainwater for outdoor watering by collecting rainwater in a rainwater tank placed beneath your home’s gutter downspout. You can use rainwater for outdoor watering and other domestic chores.
• Educate your family and friends about the importance of water conservation. The more people that are aware of the issue, the more we can all do to conserve water.

Changing water use habits is easy and offers a way for you and your family to work together on conservation. You may not be able to control the weather, but with these simple tips, you can conserve water and even save some water bill money.