Water Conservation 101: A Guide For Your Family

Collaborative Guest Post

Water scarcity is a global issue, even in countries with sufficient water resources. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, 70% of the Earth is water, but only 3% is the fresh water we use for drinking, bathing and irrigation. The experts at Unicef state that 4 billion people around the globe experience water scarcity at least one month a year. 

Wherever you are in the world, using water wisely can help current and future generations live healthier, more comfortable lives. It can also help your family save on monthly and yearly water and utility bills. 

Teaching kids about water conservation is critical, as they’ll be shaping the world for themselves, their children and generations to come. Learn how to teach your kids about water conservation and several water-saving tactics for everyday living here.

Teaching Kids About Water Conservation

Kids are often eager to learn if the process is fun and interesting. The following are a few exciting activities to teach kids where water comes from, the importance of conservation and more.

Cycle Books About Water Through Your Nightly Reading

Numerous children’s authors have written about water conservation and other topics surrounding the subject. A couple of interesting ones suitable for children include “The Water Princess” by Susan Verde, “Water Wow! A Visual Exploration” by Paula Ayer and Antonia Banyard, and “A Drop Around the World” by Barbara McKinney.

Learn Where Your Family’s Water Comes From

Teach your children about the water that enters your home. Your water may come from the ground, surface water or rainwater collection. You can perform tasks like building a small-scale water aquifer in a cup or take your children to local rivers or reservoirs for learning and recreation. Your water utility company can help you understand the source of your tap water if you’re unsure. 

Take Little Ones Camping

Taking kids camping is an ideal way to teach about water conservation, as many families camp on a limited water supply. Whether using water from an RV tank or bringing your own water jugs for tent camping, kids discover what it’s like to live with a limited water supply. They also quickly learn to conserve water for when it’s really needed.

Saving Water at Home

The average U.S. household uses more than 300 gallons of water per day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). About 70% of that use comes from washing machines, showers, toilets and faucets. 

Water conservation for future generations begins at home. There are countless actions your family can take to limit water use, and many of them won’t interrupt your daily routine. 

The following are a few additional tips for saving water at home:

• Don’t let the water run while washing dishes. Use one basin for washing and another for rinsing.
• Don’t throw leftover water in drinking glasses down the drain. Use it to water plants instead. This goes for dropped ice cubes too. 
• Keep showers under five minutes long.
• Turn off the water while lathering your hands during handwashing and brushing your teeth.  
• Check all your home’s showerheads and faucets for leaks. 
• Always fill your dishwasher and washing machine before using. Don’t run small loads. 
• Wash your pets in the yard near plants or grass that need watering.
• Thaw foods at night or in the morning instead of running hot water over them. 
• Assign each family member a specific drinking cup. Using the same cup limits the number of dishes to wash.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator to prevent running the faucet until the water is cold.  

Consider encouraging your little ones to save water with rewards for their water-saving actions. After a while, you’ll notice these water-saving tactics become second nature. 

Your family can play a significant role in conserving water for future generations. Discover more water-saving tips for your home and garden in the accompanying infographic. 

Author bio: Tom Tobin is President of Diversified Technology. Tobin has more than 30 years of experience serving municipalities and municipal utilities. After representing Diversified Billing’s predecessor software for 15 years, he bought the rights to the software and founded Diversified Technology in 2007. For the last 15 years he has grown the business to serve more than 350 clients that use the software to generate more than 7 million utility bills annually.