Did you know that billions of people throughout the world don’t have access to clean water? Even here in the United States, there are areas where the water isn’t suitable for consumption. World Water Day is March 22nd and focuses “attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.” We’re ready to spread kindness by focusing our attention on managing and conserving our precious resources as well.
Want to join us? Here are a few quick tips to get you started:
Hop in, hop out – Take shorter showers. The average shower head dispenses 2.1 gallons of water per minute, so every minute counts!
Make sure it’s full – Whether you’re washing clothes or dishes, make sure you’re running full loads to get the most of every wash cycle.
Update your appliances – When it’s time to update your appliances, make sure you invest in water-efficient Energy Star options.
Save with every flush – Even toilets can help us conserve water. Look for a toilet with a WaterSense label to know you’re making a difference when you go. Also, when in a public restroom, follow the flush instructions when equipped with water-saving toilets.
Fill your sink – If you have many dishes to rinse or are handwashing clothes, it’s much more efficient to fill the sink with water and then shut it off, than to allow the water to run continuously and drain while you hold items under the faucet.
Soap box – Read soap labels to find out if your products are biodegradable and environmentally safe. All those suds that go down the drain could be harming the environment.
Lawn care – It’s best to water your lawn in the evening where the water will have time to sink into the ground and won’t evaporate as quickly. You can also start reducing the number of times you water per week to gradually train your lawn to need less water. Or, consider water-friendly landscaping and plants if you’re redoing your yard.
Listen to your home – Do you hear the toilet running? Or a faucet dripping? You might not necessarily consider this a waste of water, but it is. Keeping your home in good repair can conserve water and save you money on your water bill!
A huge kind act is helping to bring clean, potable, water globally to those who don’t have it. It might seem like a big undertaking, but the smallest act can go a long way. The UN International Decade for Action on Water Sustainable Development suggests:
Learning about the importance of advancing sustainable development by reading the latest stories from around the world about what countries and organizations are doing to solve the global water crisis. This will help you make sense of what is happening and shape the debate.
Helping energize the implementation of existing work by sharing stories and information through your social networks. Spreading knowledge and evidence will help you and others to raise awareness of progress and to hold elected representatives to account.
You can also help right here in the U.S. by supporting legislation that treats wastewater before it goes back into the environment, cleaning it of human waste and harmful chemicals, and bringing awareness and action to those areas which need help to get clean water.
How will you be kind to the global community as it strives to provide clean, potable, water to people around the world? Let us know as we prepare to celebrate World Water Day!
