The recent price hike of water in Singapore has caused quite a bit of alarm for heavy water-users. The usual complains of “pay and pay” surfaced and plenty of people aired their less than happy comments on social media. Instead of complaining, perhaps we should look at some ways to save water at home so that the price hike will be less of a worry to us. It is our responsibility to use water in the right manner and not waste such a precious resource with our bad habits.
Here are 10 easy tips that you can use to save water at home.
1) Use a Tumbler when Brushing Teeth
Many people brush their teeth with an open tap because it is convenient. To save water, use a tumbler to hold the water instead. By turning off the tap while brushing, you save water.
2) Turn off the water when you are soaping up during a shower
We will not recommend that you shower for only 5 minutes, because that might result in a “not-so-clean” Singapore. Nonetheless, the trick is to turn off the tap whenever you are soaping up, shaving or doing a body scrub.
3) Use the half flush for liquid waste
In the bathroom, you can save water by using the half flush for liquid waste instead of a full flush. That will save you quite a lot of water. However, if you are using thick toilet papers, it might be wise to do a full flush after every 2-3 half flush to ensure that the papers are not getting stuck somewhere in the sewage system.
4) Wash your dishes in a filled sink
It is tempting to wash your dishes using a running tap because it is convenient. However, that wastes a lot of water. Instead, wash your dishes in a filled sink. That will prevent wastage of water.
5) Check for leaks regularly
Check for leaks in your taps regularly by turning off all taps and checking the water meter. If the meter is still running, that means there is a leak. Locate the leak and call the plumber immediately to fix it. Prolonged neglect could lead to potential flooding in the home, resulting in a waste of water and money.
6) Wash your laundry on full load
If you only have a few pieces of clothing to wash, consider washing them by hand or wait until you have more laundry before using the washing machine to wash them. Washing machines use a large amount of water and that will mark up your water usage.
7) Reuse the water from your washing machine
Instead of letting the water drain away, use the water from your washing machine to mop the floor or wash your car. Save the water in a bucket and reuse it to save more.
8) Wash your car with a bucket
We may think that washing our cars with a hose is so much easier, but that wastes a lot of water. Instead, wash your car with a bucket and you can save. Reuse the water from your washing machine for your car will save you even more!
9) Water your plants with a watering can
Do you water your plants with a bucket of water or a hose? That is wasting precious resources! Instead, water your plants with a watering can early in the morning or late at night to prevent rapid evaporation as well.
10) Monitor your bills closely
Besides saving you some money, monitoring and comparing your bills with the national average is a good way to know if you are using too much water. If your water usage is consistently above the national average, it is time to look at your family habits and change something at home.
