Water is one of the most precious resources we have, and therefore also one of the most used. It is important to know how to optimise this natural resource in order to protect the planet and ensure a sustainable future. Here are a few tips on how to save water at home in your everyday life. In addition to reducing the cost of your water bill, you will be helping to improve the planet because every little bit counts!
And of course, don't forget to read our tips and tricks for saving energy at home.
Tips for saving water in the home
How to save water in the bathroom
The bathroom is the area of the house where most water is used. It is therefore very important that you know how to act and optimise all the resources at your disposal to save as much water as possible. Here are a few tips:
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Showering instead of bathing: replace bathing with showering and you can save more than 50% of water. To give you an idea, a bath uses approximately 200 litres of water, while a shower uses less than 50 litres. Similarly, keep the tap turned off when you are soaping up or washing your hair. Bear in mind that around 12 litres of water are wasted every minute the tap is turned on.
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Turn off the tap: when you are brushing your teeth, shaving or soaping your hands, keep the tap turned off to avoid wasting water. For example, if you brush your teeth without turning off the tap you will waste an average of 6 litres of water, but if you turn it on only when necessary, you will only use half a litre.
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Install a diffuser or water reducer on shower and sink taps to reduce the flow rate.
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Bathtub reducers: if you have small children, we recommend that you buy a bathtub reducer to avoid having to fill the entire bathtub.
- Don't use the toilet as a waste bin: don't flush cigarette butts, plasters, non-disposable wipes or rubbish down the toilet because, as well as saving water by reducing the number of times you flush, you will also prevent the toilet from clogging. Also, this type of waste is harmful to the environment and poses a danger to the ecosystem.
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Fix leaks: although this also applies to other areas of the house such as the garden or kitchen, it is important to fix water leaks in taps, hoses, showers... Failure to do so can cost up to 100 litres a day.
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Water-saving tricks for your cistern: install a button that allows two types of flushing according to your needs. If this is not possible, you can add a bag of pebbles or sand to your cistern's load. You will save up to 50% water.
Recommendations for saving water in the kitchen
If you want to learn how to use kitchen water more efficiently, take a look at these recommendations:
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Do not rinse dishes: it is not necessary to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Some experts claim that this can even be counterproductive, as the soap needs to be dirty to perform better. In addition, the dishwasher operates at high enough temperatures to disinfect everything properly.
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Charge appliances to 100%: make sure that appliances such as the washing machine or dishwasher are at 100% load capacity before you put them on. In addition to saving water at home, you will also reduce electricity consumption.
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Efficient appliances: Whenever you can and when you are changing appliances, opt for those that are energy efficient or have built-in water-saving programmes.
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Turn off the tap: as in the bathroom, keep the tap turned off while you are, for example, cleaning or soaping up the dishes. This can save a considerable amount of water.
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Washing and defrosting food: instead of washing fruit or vegetables under running tap water, wash them in a bowl of water. Similarly, to defrost food, do not defrost it under the tap, but at room temperature or in the fridge. Speaking of food, here are some tips to save on groceries that you'll want to know about.
How to save water in your garden and swimming pool
Finally, if your home has a garden or private pool, take a look at these water-saving measures.
- Watering cans and sprinklers: For watering pots or small areas, water by hand with watering cans and sprayers. If you need to use sprinklers, program them efficiently and according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Water in the evening or early morning: We recommend that you water your plants and lawns in the evening or early morning because during the central hours, due to the temperatures, water evaporates much faster.
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Tips for your pool: to prevent the water from getting dirty or evaporating during periods when it is not in use, cover the pool with a tarpaulin to avoid having to fill it up again when the heat starts.
These are some of the recommendations for saving water at home that will undoubtedly improve the consumption of this natural resource. Now it's up to you to put them into practice, for your future and for the environment!