Efficient Water Use

Our bodies are made largely from water. Water is used to grow food. There is water in the food we eat. Plants and animals cannot survive without it. Water is used to make things. It produces electricity. Are you starting to get the picture? Water is a valuable resource that we use all the time, sometimes without even realizing it.

Since fresh water is limited, it is important that we all make an effort to use it efficiently. Efficiency means not wasting water, or using less water to do the same job. Someday there may not be enough clean, fresh water to go around. Since we have to treat water to make it safe, it costs money and uses other resources. When we use water efficiently we save money and resources.

If you would like to help save water in your community, there are a number of simple things you can do. Once you have the hang of saving water, share your actions with your friends, family and community members. Remember, all the water we have on earth is all the water we will ever have, so it is important for everyone to use it efficiently.

Here are some simple ways to save water:

1. Turn off the water faucet while you brush your teeth. Encourage friends and family to do the same while they brush their teeth, wash their face and hands, shave, etc.
2. Take shorter showers, or turn the water off when you don't need to rinse.
3. Encourage your family to install water-saving showerheads and faucet heads.
4. Check your toilet and faucets for leaks.
5. Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket. Put tissues and other waste in wastebaskets.
6. Encourage friends, family and neighbors to water gardens and lawn during cool parts of the day. Watering in the heat of the day allows more water to evaporate into the atmosphere and less to percolate into the soil so plants can use it.
7. Plant native trees and plants in your yard that do not require as much water to grow.
8. Don't let the water run in the kitchen sink while doing dishes.
9. Only run automatic dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
10. Don't leave the hose running when washing your car.
11. Sweep walkways and driveways instead of hosing them down.

Not only is it important to use water efficiently, but trying to keep the water we use clean in the first place is also a great way to make sure our water lasts. Water is easily dirtied. Cleaning water uses a lot of energy and resources. It is much easier to try to keep water clean than to clean it.

Here are some ways to help keep water clean:

1. Household cleaners that go down the drain are difficult to get out of the water. Try replacing cleaners with vinegar and water or baking soda.
2. Avoid using fertilizers and pesticides in the garden or on the lawn. They are harmful to water, and when it rains, they can be swept in to groundwater supplies or waterways.
3. Don't use your drains, including household or storm drains, as dumps. Leftover paint, pesticides and oil are chemicals that pollute water and make it difficult to clean. Call your local solid waste office and ask how to dispose of harmful chemicals safely.
4. Encourage your family to keep their cars tuned. Fluids like oil or antifreeze that leak from cars are swept into waterways when it rains, and pollute water.
5. Pick up after your pets! Pet waste contains harmful bacteria that can wash into rivers, streams and lakes.
6. Participate in river clean-ups and encourage your school to adopt a stream and learn how to keep it clean.

The good news is that when it comes to water, everyone can make a difference. A few simple changes in the way we use and treat water every day go a long way towards conserving it and keeping it clean. Remember, saving water and keeping it clean means saving energy, resources and money and saving the world we live in!

Thanks for exploring water with us. Now you understand where water comes from and the benefits of saving it and keeping it clean. Write us if you think of more ways that kids can save water, and we will share your best ideas with everyone who visits this site.