World Water Day is observed every year on March 22 in order to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation and the global water crisis. The primary focus of celebrating this day is to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure safe water and sanitation for all by 2030.
The theme for World Water Day 2023 is: “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis”, which emphasizes the urgency of taking more aggressive steps that will not only help in addressing the global water crisis but will also fulfil international commitments to sustainable development goals related to water.
The concept and idea of World Water Day were first introduced during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro back in 1992, after which the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution for the same and declared March 22 as World Day for Water. The observation of the event started the next year. This day pushes people to address critical water issues and actively take action to tackle the global water crisis.
We’ve read about numerous ways to save water over the years, however, they seem so simple that we often forget to consciously practice those ways. So, on this World Water Day, here are simple tips on how you can save water and make a conscious effort to contribute to solving the problem.
Do Routine Checks For Leaks In Your House
Leaky faucets are a major waste of water, and it is crucial to have routine checks for leaks in the house. It may not seem like a lot of water wastage, but over time it becomes a huge liability. Leaks outside the house are easier to ignore since they don’t mess up the floor or keep you awake at night. However, they can be even more wasteful than inside water leaks especially when they occur on your main water line.
Water Your Plants When Temperatures Are Cooler
Watering your plants/lawn/garden in the mornings or evenings minimizes evaporation, as temperatures are cooler. Early mornings are better than dusk as they also prevent the growth of fungus. You could also look into getting plants that are drought-resistant as they can thrive without irrigation, which would ultimately help in saving a lot of water.
Practice Rainwater Harvesting If Possible
Rainwater harvesting is simply the process of conserving rainwater by collecting, storing, and purifying rainwater that runs off from rooftops, parks, roads, open grounds, etc. for later use. Rainwater harvesting systems consist of various components like catchment devices, conveyance systems to transport the harvested water, filters to clean collected rainwater, tanks and recharge structures to store the filtered water. In a country like India where the rainy season is a big thing, this could be a great practice to save water.
Take Shorter Showers
Most people in India don’t have bathtubs in their homes, which means that taking baths instead of showers is a little unrealistic. An alternative is simply opting for shorter showers so that a minimal amount of water is used. You may treat yourself to a long hot shower once a week if you need to, but on a daily basis, to keep your water consumption to a minimum, it would be more beneficial to take shorter showers. You could also look into ways for recycling shower water.
Use Water Taps Wisely
Running water taps is one of the biggest contributors to waste wastage, as we keep the taps on while mindlessly doing our daily activities, like brushing our teeth, shaving, cleaning or washing vegetables, or washing dishes. It is important to be mindful during this time and turn off the water taps when not in use. This conscious effort will help to save gallons of water in a day.
Use Your Washing Machine For Full Loads Only
Automatic washing machines use a lot of water to wash clothes, and it is unrealistic to wash all your clothes every day by hand. So, an alternative is to only use your washing machine for full loads so that all your clothes can be washed in one go, as opposed to putting 2-3 clothes multiple times in a day, as it wastes more water. If you have a dishwasher at home, the same can be applied to washing dishes as well.
Keep Bottles Of Water In the Refrigerator
This is just a habit to incorporate into your daily routine so that you don’t have to fill water from the tap or water filter every time. This saves time and also puts a stop to the wasteful practice of running tap water to cool it for drinking.
These are only a few of the many ways you can save water in your home and vicinity. It is important to remember that change starts small, but contributes to something much bigger. This World Water Day, make a conscious effort to be a part of the change.
