12 ways to save water this summer

Pakistan is facing severe water shortage and we need to take action now

Pakistan is facing severe water shortage and if predictions are to be believed, the country’s water will reach near dead level in the next seven years. It’s time we become eco-friendly and take care of the environment we live in! Here are 12 ways we can conserve water and ensure we’re doing our part to save the planet

Turn off the taps



Don’t let your water consumption run out of control. Just by turning your tap off while you brush your teeth, you can save up to six litres of water! Impart the same knowledge to your domestic staff, especially when dishes are being washed.

Boil only what you need



There’s no need to boil it all! Save water, money and energy by only boiling as many cups of water as you need.

Shower with less water



Every minute you spend in a power shower uses up to 17 litres of water. Set a timer on your phone to keep your showers short, sweet and water-saving. Switching to an efficient shower head will allow you to lather up in less water, which means you’ll save water and cut your bills.

Let your dirty clothes accumulate



While it may not be convenient to wait a couple of days until all your dirty clothes go to the laundry, washing a full machine load of clothes uses less water and energy than two half-loads . This means lower bills as well.

Get a low-flush toilet



The average household flushes the pot 5,000 times per year. Modern dual-flush systems save huge amounts of water. They use just six litres – or six with a reduced flush – much less than the 13 litres for each old-style single flush. If you can’t invest in a new loo, get a water-saving bag for your old-style toilet .

Steam your veggies



Steaming your food is beneficial in more than one way! Not only are you limiting water usage, but you will also retain more of the natural nutrients. If you do boil, try using the leftover water as a tasty stock for soups. Or let it cool and use it to water plants.

Eat less meat



We all love our beef burgers and kebabs, but did you know that rearing animals for meat and dairy is incredibly water-intensive? By cutting down on the amount of meat you eat, you can slash your water use drastically.

Reduce food waste



It takes a lot of water to produce our cereal, fruit and other food. More than half of the seven million tonnes of food and drink households bin every year could be eaten. Wasting less food could save a person a staggering Rs74,000 a year.

Time your gardening



A great water-saving tip is to water outdoor plants early in the morning or at the end of the day. This stops water from immediately evaporating in sunlight and heat. Water onto the soil rather than leaves so that the liquid goes straight to the roots, where it’s needed.

Catch rainwater



Installing water butts saves up to 5,000 litres of water a year and your plants will thank you for rainwater rather than treated tap water. You can also cut water use by 33% by watering plants manually instead of using automatic sprinklers.

No more washing up



Surprisingly, if you fill up the dishwasher completely each time you run it, you’ll use less water than you would doing the washing up manually. Yes, even if you’re using a washing-up bowl. What better excuse to go and have a nice sit down?

Be plumbing prepared



Regularly check your kitchen pipes and the dishwasher hose for slow leaks. Find out where your household stop valve is and make sure that you can turn it on and off. Find a contact number for your water supplier, so that if you find a leak you can let them know and stop water from being wasted.