Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash
Less than 1% of the world’s freshwater is easily accessible for human use. Due to contamination and pollution, the amount of water that’s safe is quickly declining. Among other ways of green living, conserving water and reducing its waste are means through which many people hope to lessen the detriment placed on the environment. Alongside developing more efficient water systems for agriculture, adjusting how homes and businesses conduct cleaning tasks can help aid this effort.
Avoid Polluting Detergents
While water consumption receives the majority of attention from the eco-conscious, things that pollute the water and render it unsafe also contribute to the Earth’s shortage. Many laundry detergents contain 35% to 75% phosphate salts alongside other chemicals, which cause a number of water contamination and pollution problems. Thankfully, a number of manufacturers are beginning to take notice of the sustainable living movement, so there are a variety of cleaning detergents without toxins now available. Swapping your traditional laundry and dish detergent for a green, toxin-free variety is not only better for the environment, but potentially for your long-term health as well by avoiding prolonged contact with certain chemicals.
Manage Laundry
When considering water use, laundry is typically the first cleaning task that jumps to mind. From industrial cleaners to the ordinary household, washing clothing and linens consumes a lot of this precious resource. The most obvious way to reduce water use for laundry is to switch to a high efficiency washing machine. There are a lot of small ways, however, that can decrease use too, as well as save energy that’s used to operate the machines. For residential homes, families can reuse towels (versus washing after every shower), use appropriately sized cycle settings, skip extra rinse cycles, and ensure a full load is being washed. In commercial settings, energy and water efficient appliances as well as hot water heaters/tanks will make the biggest impact.
Make Small Changes
Due to the ease with which some areas access fresh, clean water, often times people develop some habits that result in excess water use. Letting the faucet run while brushing teeth, for example. Opting for showers instead of baths, hand washing dishes, and catching rainwater for use outdoors are all great ways of adjusting everyday tasks to be more environmentally friendly and reduce water consumption. Low-flow toilets, water-saving shower heads, and efficient irrigation systems are also extremely beneficial, especially for commercial and industrial purposes.
With the advanced population, global warming, and pollution of the environment, many people fear that the world will soon be fighting over water. By taking action now, we can begin to contribute to the solution and perhaps change the world’s fate for the better.