what are the ways on how to save water?

Question

I WANT TO KNOW THE EFFECTIVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO SAVE WATER

Answer 1

1 .Use only as much water as you require.
2.Close the taps well after use.
3.While brushing your teeth do not leave the tap running, open it only when you require it.
4.See that there are no leaking taps. Get a plumber to come in and seal all leaks.
5.Use a washing machine that does not consume too much water.
6. Do not leave the taps running while washing dishes and clothes.
7.Install small shower heads to reduce the flow of the water.
Water in which the vegetables and fruits have been washed can be used to water the flowers and ornamental potted plants.


8.At the end of the day if you have water left in your water bottle do not throw it away, pour it over some plants.

Answer 2

I'd like to add a little to what bala said..

Apart from using water more responsibly, there are also some other ways to save water.

Rain water harvesting, which basically makes water seep into the ground, and improve the water table, rather than just flow away..

Re-cycle water. Most of the sewage water can be recycled and used for watering plants and such. The soap and chemicals need to be removed, and the rest has fertilizer value.

Grow trees and plants, so that they break the flow of running water, and allow it to seep into the ground, and this ground water can be used when needed.

Answer 3

Don't leave the taps running when you wash, shower, brush teeth, etc. make sure you don't waste any water. You can put a brick or a stone in the flush, in ordr to take up some of the space, so that when you flush the toilet less water is used.

Answer 4

Take showers, not baths. And install one of those "water saver" shower heads. Is there a water shortage I should know about?

Answer 5

I freeze a little at a time, mail to my homey in alaska and bang, it's waiting whenenver I need it

Answer 6

dont use the water

Answer 7

Use a holeless bucket.

Answer 8

everytime when eu go toilet..... save it!!! de ***** la....lols
then drink it without wasting ur home clear water.....

Answer 9

(m)

KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY



Run the dishwasher and the washing machine only when they are full.

Don't prerinse dishes before loading the dishwasher. You'll save as much as 20 gallons a load, or 6,500 gallons per year. Our tests show prerinsing doesn't improve cleaning. Or, use the rinse-and-hold dishwasher feature for a less-than-full load before later in the week running the full load. The rinse-and-hold option uses about 2 gallons of water.

When your dish load is small, fill the sink or basin and wash dishes by hand. Place soapy dishes on a rack, and spray rinse.

Wash vegetables and fruits in a bowl or basin using a vegetable brush; don't let the water run.

Use recycled water on plants. Sources: water left from boiled eggs, tea kettles, and washed vegetables; dehumidifier condensate.

Investigate using waste water from the washing machine, bathtub, or sink on outdoor, inedible plants. States vary in their approach to so-called gray-water use. New York, for example, bans it out of concern that the byproducts of cleaning, say, can contaminate soil. Check with your state or municipality's department of environmental protection for details. (We don't recommend using gray water to wash the car; small particles in the water may scratch the paint.)

Steam vegetables instead of boiling. Besides using less water, you'll retain more vitamins in the food.

Chill drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until the water is cold.

Defrost food in the refrigerator, not in a pan of water on the counter or in the sink. Besides saving water, it's less likely to breed bacteria.


Long-term investments

Make your next dishwasher a water-saver. The most water-efficient models we've tested use only about 5 gallons per wash--less than half that of the least water-efficient models (see our latest dishwasher report, available to subscribers).

Make your next clothes washer a water-saver. The most water-efficient we've tested, the front-loading Kenmore (Sears) Elite HE 3t, uses only about 30 gallons for a large, 20-pound wash load, about the same amount that many machines use for an 8-pound load (see our latest washing machines report, available to subscribers).


BATHROOM

Fix toilet leaks. Plumbing leaks as a whole account for 14 percent of water consumed in the home, according to a study sponsored by the American Water Works Association, an industry trade group. One cause is toilet leaks, which often go unnoticed. To check if a gravity-flush type toilet is leaking, add food coloring to the tank water and let it sit 15 minutes. If it appears in the bowl, there's a leak from the flush valve (flapper valve). If you hear or see water running into the overflow pipe in the tank, it’s likely the fill valve (the valve connected to the water line that typically uses a floating device to stop the water flow when the tank is full) is not shutting off. This can happen if sediment lodges on the valve seat for instance. Sediment can often be cleaned and the valve will work fine. However, if the valve seat is damaged or worn, it must be replaced.

Don't use your toilet as a wastebasket. Toilets manufactured during the late ‘70’s and ‘80’s are sometimes known as 3.5 gallon toilets. Most were simply older design toilets that the manufacturers modified to use less water per flush. The date of manufacture is typically visible inside the tank. Modifying the flush on these models is not recommended, since it has already been done. However, very old toilets – those made before the 1970’s can consume 5 or more gallons of water per flush. Many of these models can be retrofitted to reduce water consumption. Displace some water in the toilet tank of an older toilet with a capped plastic liter bottle filled with sand. Alternatively, consider installing an early-closing flapper valve, which prevents a part of the tank from emptying during each flush. But if you find that these modifications are causing you to flush the toilet multiple times with each use, you’re likely better off restoring the toilet to its original configuration

Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth. Faucets can spout 2 to 3 gallons per minute.

Time your showers to keep them short; this can cut 5 to 7 gallons per minute with an old-style showerhead. Or turn off the water while lathering.

When taking a bath, close the drain before turning on the water. And fill it half as full as you usually do; you could save 10 to 15 gallons.

When taking a bath, close the drain before turning on the water. And fill it half as full as you usually do; you could save 10 to 15 gallons.

Install new showerheads and low-flow faucets. Showerheads that were made after January 1994 must use no more than 2.5 gallons per minute (see our August 2005 showerheads report, available to subscribers). But remember even new showerheads can use more than the required 2.5 gallons per minute. If your shower has multiple heads, you can estimate your water consumption by multiplying the total number of heads by 2.5.



Long-term investments

Replace older toilets with low-flow models. Some of them work very well, and they use less than half as much water as older models (see our August 2005 toilets report, available to subscribers).

Opt for a water heater with a longer warranty if you’re buying a water heater. These models typically include more tank insulation and other features for more efficient operation. Insulating water piping can help slow the loss of heat but even with insulation, the water in the piping will cool after an extended period without use. When hot water piping travels a long distance from the water heater to reach a point of use, it can take a long time and many gallons of water for running water from a faucet, shower or tub to get hot. Alternatives to consider are a remote tankless water-heater at the point-of-use or a circulating hot water loop so the water in the piping is always hot. Each has tradeoffs, running water until it’s hot wastes water; circulating water to keep it hot wastes energy; and installing a tankless water heater has significant purchase, installation, and maintenance costs. Tankless models frequently use electricity – that costs more than twice the cost of gas or oil in this country based on national average prices.


LAWN, PATIO, DRIVEWAY

Fix leaky hoses and hose connections.

Outfit all hoses with automatic shutoff (pistol-style) nozzles.

Adjust hose attachments and sprinkler heads to emit large drops instead of fine spray, which evaporates more easily.

Adjust hose attachments and sprinkler heads to emit large drops instead of fine spray, which evaporates more easily.
Use a sprinkler timer, but don't overwater. Your local Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office can advise on what's appropriate for your region. (For a listing of offices throughout the country, go to
http://www.rma.usda.gov/other/stateag.html.)

Position sprinklers so they're not watering driveways and walkways.

Hand-water with a hose where possible. Homeowners who water with a handheld hose can use one-third less water outdoors than those who use automatic sprinklers.

Water during the coolest time of the day to reduce evaporation. Don't water when it's windy. Generally watering lawns at night isn’t recommended since the grass can stay wet for long periods, which can promote fungus growth.

Adjust your lawnmower to cut grass to a height of 3 inches or more. Taller grass encourages deeper roots and shades the soil to reduce moisture loss. When planting or reseeding a lawn, choose more drought-tolerant varieties of grass.

If faced with watering restrictions, concentrate first on shrubs and trees, then perennials, then annuals. Unless your lawn is newly planted, let it grow brown; it will likely perk up as the weather cools.

Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps instead of hosing them down.


GARDEN

Add compost or peat moss to soil to improve its water-holding capacity.

Mulch beds to a depth of 2 to 3 inches to reduce evaporation.

To ensure that potted plants and flowers use water most efficiently, consider adding polymer crystals to soil in flowerpots to make it more absorbent, or buy special patio pots that allow water to reach roots efficiently. Such products are available at garden retailers.

Choose drought-tolerant plants. Perennials include coneflower, butterfly weed, goldenrod, iris, and daylily. Annuals include verbena, dianthus, and cosmos. Herbs include thyme, rosemary, lavender, aloe, and many species of salvia. As for shrubs, conifers generally use less water in the summer than flowering shrubs. Trees include Japanese pagoda, Kentucky coffee, honey locust, and Eastern red cedar.

Put off planting major shrubs. Even drought-tolerant varieties need a season or more of intensive watering to properly develop root systems.

Reduce the size of your vegetable garden. Plant tomatoes and herbs in pots and use recycled water on them.

Consider buying a rain barrel to catch water from your gutter system to use on plants. A barrel that holds about 60 gallons--and includes a childproof lid--costs about $100. Most have a spigot for easy dispensing on your plants.


Long-term investments

Consider drip irrigation for flowers and shrubs. These systems, which can be purchased at home-improvement and garden retailers, are lengths of thin plastic tubing perforated at intervals and placed at the base of plants where the water can most efficiently penetrate to the roots.

Develop a long-term landscaping plan that uses drought-tolerant plants. Wise landscaping can save up to 50 percent of the water you use outdoors. Change the composition of your lawn to drought-tolerant strains.

RECREATION



If you're allowed to fill your pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation.

Fill pool a few inches lower than usual.

Avoid water toys that need a constant stream of water.

Don't install or use fountains or other water ornaments unless they use recycled water.


Long-term investments

Consider buying a pool filter that uses less water during filter cleaning. Some new filters waste no water at all.


OTHER TIPS

No- or low-cost actions

Check your home's water meter for system leaks. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances, then read your meter. Make sure no one uses water for 30 minutes, then take a second reading. If the dial has moved, you have a leak in a toilet or water pipe.

Participate in water-conservation programs in hotels and motels. Many lodging establishments give you ways to inform the maid that you don't need fresh towels every day, which will save on their laundry-water usage.

If you use a diaper service for your baby, consider switching to disposables. In regions where water is a bigger issue than landfills, this may be the more ecologically sound choice.

Patronize commercial car washes that use recycled water. Or, wash at home, if watering restrictions permit, using a bucket of water, not a running hose.