If you have access to a toilet, clean and safe water running in your taps, consider yourself very, very lucky. Globally, 1 in every 3 people don’t have access to a toilet, and 663 million people lack access to safe water. The water crisis currently tops the list of impending global risks based on impact to society as announced by the World Economic Forum.
While governments and organizations are working across the world to find a solution for, and to put an end to the global water shortage, there’s a lot that you, as a Global Citizen, can do in your everyday life to conserve water. These simple things could help you save more than 2,500 gallons of water every month.
There are a number of ways to save water & they all start with you https://t.co/nNLpLTe3tw
— Water-Use It Wisely (@WUIW) August 22, 2016
1. Before taking a shower, don’t waste cold water while waiting for the warm water. Instead, put a container beneath the shower to store that cold water, and use it later to water your plants, or to clean your car or windows. This can save as many as 200 to 300 gallons per month.
2. Put dye tablets or a bit of food coloring in your toilet tank to check for leaks. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, it means there’s a leak that you should repair. This could save 400 gallons each month.
3. Place a plastic bottle filled with water and pebbles or marbles in your toilet tank. This will displace the water in the tank, and will cause less water to be used with each flush. Doing this can save 5 to 10 gallons a day, and up to 300 gallons per month.
Save water for your garden with a rain barrel - find more ways to save water on https://t.co/uM9P31Mzxk#TuesdayTippic.twitter.com/ajWm5SoXh8
— Live Green (@EPA_LiveGreen) August 9, 2016
4. In the summer, keep bottles of water in the fridge instead of running the tap till the water is chilled. This could save 200 to 300 gallons a month.
5. If you have a lawn, don’t water it when it’s windy outside – the wind causes too much evaporation. Instead, wait for the breeze to pass and save 300 gallons per watering.
Eco-friendly plant watering in the summer can help save water. What else? Check out our tips for more! https://t.co/aZ7c8W7lbO#gardening
— Best of New Jersey (@bestofnj) August 20, 2016
6. If you accidentally drop ice cubes, put them in a plant instead of in the sink.
7. Time your shower – if you keep it under 5 minutes, you could save up to 1,000 gallons of water per month.
8. While putting out fresh water for your pet, don’t throw away the old water. Instead, use it to water plants.
9. This one is basic: don’t leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or lathering your hands, and save 3 to 6 gallons every day.
10. Run a dishwasher or laundry load only when it’s full, instead of when it’s half-full. This could save 20 gallons of water per load.
By taking action on Global Citizen, you will have a chance to win tickets to this year's Global Citizen Festival in New York City on Sept. 24, 2016.