Esquina para niños

Your Water Footprint

It takes a lot of energy to treat water and move it, so if you use less water, you’ll use less energy, and that will lower your water footprint.
Bathtub

Fill the bathtub halfway or less, and save up to 12 gallons per bath.
(Source: “Around the House,” Save Our Water)
Leaky Shower

Check for leaks, and tell an adult if you find one! One drip per second wastes over 3,000 gallons per year—that’s 180 showers!
Flushing the Toilet

Talk to your family about flushing only when necessary. You can save water (and laugh about the advice) together!
(Source: “Toilet,” Water Footprint Calculator)
Brushing Your Teeth

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth, and save up to 4 gallons per minute.
(Source: Water—Use It Wisely)
Washing Your Hands
Leaky Toilet

(Source: Water—Use It Wisely)
Older Toilets Waste Water

(Source: “Toilet,” Conserve H2O)
Taking a Shower

Eating Leftovers

Install Water Aerators on Your Faucets
Your family can install water-saving aerators on all of the faucets.
(Source: Water—Use It Wisely)
Cooking and Boiling

(Source: “Cooking,” Water Footprint Calculator)
Washing Your Veggies

(Source: Water—Use It Wisely)
Water Cups and Glasses

(Source: Water—Use It Wisely)
Laundry

To reduce the water and energy consumed, do laundry only when you have a full load. (Be careful not to overload the machine.) During the summer, wait till after 9 p.m.
(Source: “Residential Tips,” Flex Alert)
Rain Barrel

Ask an adult to set up a rain barrel under a gutter. You can use rainwater to water the lawn, wash windows, or wash the car. Just don’t drink it!
Sprinklers

Tell an adult if the sprinklers are leaking, over-spraying, or watering too much too fast, which causes runoff.
(Source: “Eliminating Run-off and Overspray,” California Friendly Landscaping in Los Angeles)
Plants

Use native plants or plants that require little water to thrive in your region.
(Source: “Saving Water: Tips for Residential Use,” Home Water Works)
Dishwasher

Make sure the dishwasher is full before running it. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month!
(Source: Water—Use It Wisely)
Eat More Veggies

Eat more veggies. It takes an enormous amount of water to produce processed foods and animal products like meat and dairy.
(Source: “Eating Lower on the Food Chain,” Water Footprint Calculator)
Sweeping Outdoors

Use a broom to sweep outdoor areas instead of hosing them off. You can save 8 to 18 gallons per minute!
(Source: “Around the Yard,” Save Our Water)
Drying Your Clothes

Dry your clothes on a drying rack or a clothesline. When you save energy, you also save water, because power plants use a lot of water to produce electricity.
(Source: “Laundry,” Water Footprint Calculator)
Pets

Wash Fido and Fluffy outdoors, on a part of the lawn that needs watering.
(Source: Water—Use It Wisely)
WaterSense and Energy Star
Look for WaterSense and Energy Star labels for products and services certified for water and energy efficiency.