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When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.

- Benjamin Franklin

August 2008

Water conservation at home

People and the ocean rely on fresh water to sustain life. The water in the air, the ocean, on land and in our bodies is all interconnected in a never-ending cycle.

This water is reusable, but not renewable: We can each do our part in our very own homes to reduce water consumption and protect this precious resource. This month, even if you live far from the ocean, do something for the ocean and its wildlife and become water wise!

Three for me...

Sing shorter shower songs. Conserve water in the bathroom by turning off the tap when you are not using it (brushing your teeth, shaving, soaping up) and by taking shorter showers. The average five-minute shower can use up to 50 gallons of water! Bathroom use accounts for about 75% of the water used inside the home so making a change here can mean a huge positive impact on your household’s water use.
Become a leak detective. About 14% of your household water is lost through leaks. These leaks are easier to detect and to fix than you might think. Want the help of a pro? Some plumbers will come and check your house for leaks for free. The most common leak in a house is a leaking toilet, which can use 90,000 gallons of water a month and add $500 onto your utility bill. Fixing leaks saves water for the world and money for you!
Watch your daily water use with this handy water calculator. You can also check your home's water meter and your water bill to keep track of your overall water usage, and then see how much water you use in comparison to others around the world. Learning about water conservation issues and noticing how you use water in your own life is the first step to becoming water wise and making a big impact for the ocean. The fish will thank you for saving some water for them too!

...and three for the seas

Water smarter. As much as 30% of U.S. household water consumption comes from outdoor use. To get a nice yard and garden without using all that clean water, consider planting native and drought resistant species; they are used to the typical amounts of rainfall of your area and can withstand natural weather fluctuations.

When you do need to water your plants there are many ways to conserve water in your garden and yard, such as hand watering in the morning and positioning sprinklers so they’re not watering the street and sidewalk.
Rethink your sink. Many appliances in our homes are heavy water consumers. The good news is they don’t have to be. There are many ways you can update your old appliances to make them water savers instead of water spenders. For example, you can reduce your use by installing a front loading washing machine, low-flow showerhead, and low-flush toilets. Replacing an old toilet with a new model can save the typical household up to 22,000 gallons of water per year!
Become an advocate for water savings. Spread the water saving message and multiply your impact by educating others about ways to save water. Taking action can be as simple as forwarding this information on to friends and family. You can take your message one step further by organizing a neighborhood water awareness group that helps area schools and businesses become water wise. To get started visit The Ocean Project's Conservation Action Map for a list of conservation organizations to tie in with in your community!