5 steps to reduce water consumption at home
How can we avoid wasting our daily water? Métro spoke with Rébecca Pétrin, Executive Director of Eau Secours, an organization that fights for the protection of water, this vital resource that we sometimes take for granted.
- Install water flow regulators
“It adds air and pressure to the jet, so every droplet of water is more effective than in regular showerheads. We therefore consume less water”, sums up the general manager of Eau Secours. These regulators can be found in hardware stores and are useful for both showers and sinks.
- Prioritize the shower over the bath
As you might expect, taking a full bath isn't the most economical option when it comes to water consumption. It is therefore advisable to prioritize the shower, which lasts about five minutes. If you can stop the water during the soaping time, that's even better!
- Do the dishes without wasting
Leaving the water running all the way through dinnertime dishwashing isn't particularly eco-friendly either. Ms. Pétrin advises using a basin filled with water or putting the stopper at the bottom of the sink to measure the amount of water used. Cleaning in the dishwasher with low water consumption – on a normal cycle – is ideal, but waiting until it is full before using it is even more optimal.
- Get a rainwater collector
This container that collects rainwater allows it to be reused to water the flowerbeds or the garden . You can build it yourself or buy one from several local shops.
- Use a broom instead of the garden hose< /strong>
The classic cleaning of asphalt with a garden hose is not without consequences. “Even if it's allowed for a month, it still puts a lot of pressure on the municipal system to provide drinking water,” explains the expert. Instead, she recommends sweeping the dirt and waiting for the rain to take care of the rest.
If you have to use a hose to water the lawn , do it early in the morning or at sunset to prevent the water from evaporating in the sun.
And to protect water…
- Do not throw anything down the toilet or sink that is toxic and rather dispose of it responsibly according to the indications on the products.
- Use biodegradable products so that they decompose naturally in water without polluting them.
- Where possible, buy local, organic and seasonal to protect water resources globally.
