Ways to be Water Wise

If you’ve been in California at all during few years or so (which, as Cal students, is probably the case), you would know that water is quite a sensitive topic. After all, the recent drought in the state has caused much pressure for millions of households to conserve water. But luckily for us (all of us, Californians or not!), the drive to conserve water has continued beyond the end of the drought, and efforts are in place to continue this trend of being water wise.

So, you might ask, what can you do to help?

Here’s some ways you can do your part in conserving water:

1. Load your laundry. On average, laundry can take up to 40% of a household’s water consumption – and let’s not get into the electrical costs of laundry machines. The solution? Decrease the number of laundry loads by increasing the size of each load. You’ll end up saving not only tons of water, but also your quarters.
2. Shorten your showers. Since many of us live in residence halls or complexes that don’t necessarily allow tampering with showerheads or faucets, we can’t always depend on reducing the water flow in our showers. So, the next best thing to do is say sayonara to singing song after song while sapping your water supply away and say hello to a new eco-friendly habit.
3. Say no to non-native plants. House plants are good for us, but they are great for us when they belong to the habitat we’re trying to raise them in. For California, this means plants that require less water in general – succulents and cacti, for example, are great additions to your home that require much less water to maintain than other house plants. (Of course, don’t throw out that hibiscus if you already have one!)
4. Turn off the tap. This can be done when you’re brushing your teeth, or when you pause a moment while washing your hands. As long as you’re not using the water flow from your tap, make sure that tap stays off. The water you save will build up in the long run!

Every bit of water we save counts, so it’s best to get started now. Try implementing some of these tips in your daily routine, or if you already have, think about what more you can do to reduce the amount of water you use. And, whether or not you’re a water conservation master, don’t hesitate to spread the word about the need to be water wise!

by: Beverly Pan