Water Saving Tips
Our Motto: ‘Water is precious. It keeps us alive. If you don’t get enough, you may not survive. ‘
We can learn how to Conserve Water and Use it Effectively.
1. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
2. Turn off the taps when brushing your teeth. A bathroom tap uses 6 gallons per minute. Wet your brush, turn off the water, brush, then turn on to rinse.
3. It takes about 36 gallons of water to fill a bathtub, so showers are generally the more water-efficient way to bathe.Bathe your young children together.
4. Fill the bath tub half full. A full bath tub uses 36 gallons of water.
5. Cut your shower time by two minutes.
6. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the bin rather than the toilet.
7. Dishwasher: Wash only full loads and reduce by one load per week. A dishwasher uses 15 gallons per load.
8. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
9. Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
10. Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water
and energy while it helps your clothes to keep their colours.
11. Listen for dripping taps and running toilets. Fixing a leak can save 300 gallons a month or more.
12. If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
13. Invest in a water barrel to harvest water. Use this to water plants and wash your car and patio.
Outdoors & Landscaping
1. Don't leave the hose running while washing your car. Use a nozzle with an automatic shut off and a sponge and bucket of soapy water.
2. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and walkways.
3. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. This holds moisture in so you do not have to water as often.
4. Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
5. Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons a minute.
6. Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
7. Watering Time: The best time of the day to water is close to sunrise or close on sunset in order to minimize levels of water evaporation.
Ciarán Kenny, Green Schools Committee
