8 things you can do right now to cut back your water use

In drought-stricken areas across the globe, everyone must do their part to conserve a dwindling resource. Simple changes can help cut back on water use

By Grace Wade

Every drop counts in a water crisis

Patricia Marroquin/Getty Images

In parts of the US, long-lasting droughts have parched the land and made water a scarce resource – and there is no end in sight. For a large swathe of the US, climate change has made drought the new normal, exacerbating a 22-year megadrought that has left western US states scrambling to save water. Government officials will have to address widespread water shortages with policy changes, employing both mandatory cuts and behavioural “nudges” to encourage people to use less. Here are some simple shifts you can make to curb water use at home.

Fix leaky faucets

The average US household leaks nearly 38,000 litres of water annually. The most common sources of leaks in homes are old toilet flapper valves, faucets and showerheads. Replacing or tightening these parts can save homes 10 per cent on their water bill.

Redesign your lawn

A water-smart yard can reduce outdoor water use by 20 to 50 per cent. Redesign your landscaping by choosing native, drought-resistant vegetation, incorporating more trees for shade and grouping plants together by irrigation needs.

Upgrade irrigation systems

Nearly half of residential outdoor water use is wasted via evaporation, wind or run-off. Replace sprinklers with a drip irrigation or automatic watering system to prevent water loss. If this isn’t possible, water your lawn between 8pm and 8am to reduce evaporation.

Update laundry machines

The average clothes washer uses almost 120 litres of water per load. A high-efficiency, front-loading washing machine, on the other hand, uses less than 50 litres a cycle and can hold double the garments. If you can’t afford a new machine, re-wearing clothing items once or twice can reduce the number of loads.

Take 5-minute showers

Showering accounts for almost 17 per cent of indoor water use. By cutting a 10-minute rinse in half, you can save an estimated 47 litres of water per shower.

Ditch handwashing dishes

You can conserve more than 6700 litres of water a year by using a dishwasher instead of handwashing your kitchenware, according to a 2020 study. Just make sure you only run full loads! If you don’t have a dishwasher, plug up your sink or use a wash basin while scrubbing.

Turn off the kitchen tap

Cut back on water by defrosting frozen foods in the fridge overnight instead of running them under water, and cleaning produce in a water-filled bowl versus under a faucet. Also, scrape dishes instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher – detergents are designed to cling to food residue and will do the work for you.

Brush smarter

Turning off the tap when brushing your teeth can save between 7.5 and 15 litres of water each time you brush, depending on your bathroom faucet.