How to Conserve Water: Here’s How You Can Contribute

Many Americans take having easy access to plentiful, clean water for granted. However, more than two million people across the U.S. lack reasonable access to running fresh water. Globally, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) asserts that approximately 60% of the world’s population currently struggles with water scarcity to some extent, a problem that is actively worsening. Estimates suggest that by 2030, approximately 700 million people will face water scarcity that will require displacement.

Efforts toward water conservancy face challenges, including an outdated and crumbling plumbing infrastructure, damaged septic systems, contamination and more. Based on the circumstances, we must continue seeking new water sources, improve the efficiency of our water systems, prevent water waste and find ways to conserve water using new technology.

The Importance of Water Conservation

Why is water conservation important? Although much of the earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 3% is both suitable for consumption and easily accessible. Freshwater is a finite resource necessary to sustain life; thus, conserving water is critical today and for the future.

We depend on water for consumption, bathing, growing crops for food, heating and cooling and more. In many parts of the U.S., natural water sources are limited, which is further exacerbated during times of drought.

When water is wasted, many systems that pump, sanitize and heat water must work harder. These activities all require energy, which results in higher emissions that harm the environment.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP) demonstrating success with “recharging” aquifers, which are sources of groundwater that many communities depend on for consumption and crop irrigation. This effort was largely in response to extended drought, which substantially depleted the existing water supplies. The EPA works with local municipalities and utility providers to capture rainwater and stormwater and partners with these entities to create dry wells.

Practical Tips for Everyday Conservation

Those who are wondering how to conserve water in their daily lives should consider some of the following tips and strategies:

  • Maximize washing machines and dishwashers: Whenever possible, wait to wash clothing or dishes until you have a full load. Although today’s ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washing machines use significantly less water, many traditional models use 20 gallons or more during cycles.
  • Detecting and repairing leaks: Most homes have networks of pipes that deliver water to sinks, water heaters, showers, outdoor spigots and more. Over time, leaks will develop and sometimes go undetected. Implementing systems such as the Flume Smart Home Water Monitor is an option to allow for promptly detecting leaks indoors and outdoors.
  • Lawn and garden areas: Water plants in the early morning hours, particularly during the warmer months, as this will help maximize absorption by reducing water evaporation. Strategically place sprinklers to avoid wasting water on driveways, sidewalks and similar areas. 
  • Limit running water: Turn off faucets when brushing teeth, shaving or washing dishes by hand.
  • Shower more efficiently: Take measures to reduce the number of minutes you spend in the shower. The amount of water you can save might add up over weeks and months.
  • Make dietary changes: Consider eating more plant-based foods instead of meats, as animal-based products generally require more water.

The Role of Technology in Sustainability

As technology develops, property owners have more options to save water by choosing more efficient appliances. For example, transitioning to ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances will substantially reduce water consumption. Among the most common examples include high-efficiency dishwashers, washing machines and “low-flow” toilets.

The Flume Smart Home Water Monitor system is an excellent example of a tool that leverages technology to conserve water. The Flume Water Sensor integrates with the water meter in your home and interprets the magnetic field of the meter using machine learning to monitor use and detect leaks.

The Flume Bridge is a device that creates a link between your home’s WiFi network, which enables data transmission to the Flume App on your smartphone. Homeowners can easily self-install the Flume system and have real-time access to information regarding water use indoors and outdoors.

Many utility providers and municipal organizations have also adopted solutions from Flume. For example, when working with Flume, the City of Goodyear, Arizona, enhanced the ways that water was managed and retained to reduce residential water consumption by up to 14%.

Getting Involved

If individual residents do their part to proactively conserve water, the entire community can benefit. Local agencies, groups and resources exist that will help educate and inform people.

The Groundwater Foundation is an organization that promotes water conservation through education, actionable initiatives and innovation that empower local residents and businesses. They implemented a Clean Water Challenge for elementary school students, which involved regularly collecting water samples for testing and using a small group model to share ideas and assess outcomes.

The California Water Efficiency Partnership established a Smart Rebates Program in cities including Ventura, Sacramento and Santa Barbara. This initiative supports rebate programs with water utility providers that financially incentivize local residential and commercial customers. The program uses a comprehensive set of tools including data analytics, water-use goals and research to achieve goals.

How Flume Water Can Help

Water is a vital resource that impacts human health, animal life, the environment, the economy and many other critical areas. In the near future, freshwater scarcity will increasingly be a problem in the U.S. and throughout the world.

Property owners can do their part by changing their daily habits, routines and dietary choices in efforts to conserve water. Homeowners should routinely inspect their plumbing systems for leaks or other vulnerabilities and promptly make repairs. Remember the importance of conserving water in exterior areas, such as adopting smart irrigation measures and harvesting rainwater. Choosing high-efficiency appliances such as toilets, dishwashing machines and washing machines can also significantly conserve water.

Property owners can rely on the Flume Smart Home Water Monitor to represent a comprehensive whole-home solution for observing and managing water use throughout the interior and exterior of the premises. The system uses digital technology that will promptly alert you through the Flume app if water leaks occur.

Resources:

https://www.unicef.org/wash/water-scarcity https://www.epa.gov/water-research/drought-resilience-and-water-conservation https://www.energystar.gov/products/clothes_washers https://groundwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Clean-Water-Challenge.pdf https://calwep.org/calweps-smart-rebates-program/