The World Water Week is marked every year to highlight the globe’s water issues. The theme of this year’s Water Week (August 24 to August 30) was “Water for society – Including all”
This How You Can Help Conserve Water at Home
A significant number of Kenyans have been blessed with a steady supply of clean water, and it’s a privilege we often take for granted. But, with the surging national population, rapid urbanization and industrialization, attention is turning to water use — and abuse.
According to Kenya’s Ministry of Water Resources Management and Development, domestic water consumption in Kenya accounts for 20% of all water use. Agriculture accounts for 76% while industries use just 4%. Additionally, an average family of 4 uses 200 liters of water a day. Efficient appliances and fixtures can help, but a little care and common sense go a long way toward minimizing waste. Here are 11 tips for reducing water consumption at home.
- Turn off taps.Start saving by breaking a bad habit: Never let tap water run needlessly as you wash or rinse dishes, wash your hands or face, brush your teeth or shave. Bathroom taps run at about 2 liters of water a minute. Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth and shave, and you can save hundreds of litres a month.
Tip: Be sure to fix leaks. A slow drip from a leaking tap can waste as much as 50 litres of water a day. A leaky toilet can waste 200 litres a day.
- Use every drop.Learn to repurpose water. One easy way is to capture under your colander the water you use to rinse fruits and veggies, and use it in the garden. Do the same while you wait for your hot water to come in.
- Shorten your showers. Aim for five minutes or less.
- Harvest rainwater.Find ways to save and store rainwater for use in the garden
- Consider a smaller dishwasher and/or a high efficiency washing machine. Today’s modern and more efficient appliances provide an array of water saving machines to choose from.
As you can see, water conservation requires a little due diligence, but it doesn’t have to be a pain.