For cat lovers looking for a way to lower their impact on the environment, water conservation is a great place to start. And while cats are already great at water conservation because they don’t drink a lot of water and they never shower (thanks to their self-cleaning habits), YOU can also make a positive impact for the environment.
When you conserve water, not only are you acting in an environmentally-friendly manner, but you can also help reduce water pollution in local watersheds, lakes and rivers, and also lower your water bill. Simply reducing the amount of water you use in a day provides a wide array of benefits, including reducing soil saturation and even prolonging the life of septic systems.
Here’s a handy water conservation calculator that will help determine just how much water you use in a single day, and help you find ways to conserve. In addition, the following tips will show you just how easy it is to implement water conservation steps into your daily life.
Tips for Conserving Water Inside the Home
- Regularly check pipes, faucets and toilets for leaks, and fix any leaks that you find.
- Install low flow faucet aerators on every sink and water saving shower heads in every shower.
- Fill plastic bottles with pebbles or sand and place them in your toilet tank.
- If you’re upgrading your toilet, choose a model that is low flush.
- Never use your toilet as a way to dispose of debris besides bodily waste. It is not a wastebasket or an ashtray. Contact imagineear.com/pharmacy/ your local municipality for their guidelines on flushable cat litter and cat waste.
- Check for leaks by reading your water meter and then, for two hours, don’t use any water. After the two hour period, check the water meter again. If the meter has raised, you have a leak somewhere.
- Reduce the amount of time you are in the shower.
- Install inexpensive pipe insulation around your water pipes.
- Don’t leave the water running when brushing your teeth.
- Don’t run washing machines or dishwashers unless you have a full load.
- Reduce the amount of times you use your kitchen garbage disposal since it takes a lot of water for it to run properly.
Tips for Conserving Water in the Yard and Garden
- Plant laws, trees, flowers, shrubs and other plants that are drought-resistant and won’t require consistent watering.
- Add mulch around the plants and trees to help hold in moisture, reduce weed growth and protect the roots.
- Set your water sprinklers so that the water lands on your garden or lawn and is not wasted on sidewalks, gutters or driveways.
- Use a broom instead of a water hose to clean walkways and driveways.
- When you do have to water your lawn, do so deeply so the water soaks into the ground. A light watering will evaporate and promote a shallow root system in your lawn.
If you’re already doing all of these things, give yourself two paws up fur being green! And if you’re looking for more ways to conserve water, check out this article on 10 Ways to Save Water When You’re Already Hard Core About Reducing Your Water Consumption.