¿Sabrías decir cuánta agua consumes en un solo día? Según datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) tomados en 2020, el consumo medio diario en nuestro país es de unos 133 litros por habitante. Esta es una cantidad mayor que la que realmente necesitamos, ya que la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO) apunta a su vez que, aproximadamente, el 30 % del líquido elemento que se produce en el mundo se pierde a través de fugas, derroches y mal uso.

The truth is that, if we take into account that the average annual water bill per person in Spain is about 91 euros, household water waste is not a matter of vital importance to our economy. Or at least, not to the same extent as savings on electricity or gas. But at CULMIA, we know that even the smallest details matter when it comes to easing the strain on our wallets, and that reducing water consumption is also synonymous with protecting the environment and creating a more sustainable world.

That’s why we’ve put together some tips to help you avoid wasting water at home and, at the same time, save money while doing your part for the planet. Are you ready to take note of them all?

Some things to keep in mind to avoid wasting water at home

First and foremost, it is important for consumers to be aware of two aspects related to water use in the home.

Factors That Influence People’s Water Consumption

The Ministry for Ecological Transition highlights the following factors that determine how water is used:

• Weather conditions, since our water usage varies depending on the season.
• Economic factors, because tiered water rates discourage wasteful use and thus help control consumption.
• Technological factors, since installing energy-efficient technology and appliances in the home helps reduce water consumption.
• Urban factors, since the type of housing also influences household spending: single-family homes tend to have significantly higher utility costs than apartments due to the presence of a yard, a pool, etc.

Data on Household Energy Consumption

Knowing which daily activities consume the most water is also essential for controlling water waste at home. For example, if we know that one out of every three liters (34%) goes down the shower drain, we can take specific steps to reduce water use when we shower. This also applies to the other key areas of the home: the toilet ( 21% of total water use), the sink ( 18%), the washing machine (10%), the dishwasher (5%), and cooking (4%). Not to mention, of course, a vital associated need: drinking water (8%).

Tips for Avoiding Water Waste at Home

Monitoring Consumption During Personal Hygiene

Of the 133 liters we mentioned that are consumed on average per person, nearly half are related to hygiene habits. Calculations by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) indicate that a 5-minute shower uses 50 liters of water. Therefore, a shower will always be the better option than a bath, since filling a bathtub uses four times as much water—up to 200 liters.

And we shouldn’t just be mindful of this when we’re taking care of our general hygiene. There are also specific hygiene habits that, if done incorrectly, can lead to water waste at home. We’re referring, for example, to leaving the faucet running while we brush our teeth, lather up our hands, or shave. If we let the water run for just a few minutes, we can end up wasting up to a dozen liters, so if we brush our teeth three times a day, the total (and unnecessary) waste could be as much as 40 liters.

Dimensions of the toilet

As we’ve mentioned before, the toilet accounts for one-fifth of the “liquid element” we use at home. And although it’s more difficult to control water waste in the home in this case, there are still several ways to reduce this consumption.

For example, it is possible to:

• Adjust the toilet tank flush mechanism to determine the amount of residual water that will remain inside the tank after each flush.
• Adjust the cistern’s fill level using the control rod so that the fill float shuts off the water flow sooner once the predefined level is reached.
• Use of a dual-flush button on the toilet tank, as this allows you to choose between a full flush and a partial flush.
• A cable-operated push button is also used to activate the dual-flush mechanism. Depending on the setting, this allows for two types of flushes: a full flush and a partial flush.

These solutions, along with the use of a trash can in the bathroom to dispose of waste that does not need to be flushed down the toilet, will allow us to reduce the number of flushes and total water consumption.

Be Mindful of Water Waste in the Kitchen

With the above data in hand and doing the math, if we factor in cooking and the use of two appliances that use water and are typically left running— the washing machine and the dishwasher—we can conclude that the kitchen accounts for one out of every five liters consumed in the home. Therefore, let’s analyze the options we have for controlling water waste in each of these activities.

Cooking

Water is essential for cooking, but we can minimize our use of it. To do this, always choose the smallest pot when cooking food, which will allow you to use only the amount you need.

In addition, you can choose to steam your food instead of boiling it, either using a steamer or a very simple method that requires only a pot, a colander, and water. And if you do decide to boil, keep in mind that you can also reuse the leftover water to water your plants, since they ’ll benefit from all the nutrients they’ve absorbed during the process.

Dishwasher

Using the dishwasher is already a better option than washing dishes by hand, because it uses less water. But if, in addition to running it, we make sure to run it only when it’s completely full and to use the shortest cycle available, we’ll be using water as efficiently as possible.

Washing Machine

In this case, the recommendation regarding the short cycle on dishwashers also applies. But that’s not the only thing we can do —we can also make an effort to properly sort the clothes that need to go through the washing machine and those that can still be worn a few more times. Keep in mind that not everything needs to be washed after just one use, so try to reuse items that aren’t dirty yet. If you do this, you’ll reduce the number of loads and, as a result, do a much better job of controlling water waste in your home!

General Tips for Saving Water

In addition to all the specific recommendations you’ve just seen, here are some more general ones that can also yield great results.

Use the refrigerator to defrost food

Don’t use hot water; instead, plan ahead and let them thaw in the refrigerator.

Always keep a pitcher of cold water in the refrigerator

Do you like cold water? Don’t turn on the faucet to cool it down—just fill a pitcher and put it in the fridge. That way, it’ll always be ready and fresh, and you won’t use more than you actually need.

Fix Leaky Faucets

Who hasn’t had a faucet at home that doesn’t work properly and drips constantly? The amount of water wasted will depend on the nature of the problem and how fast it drips, but it can result in up to 24 liters of water wasted in the home each day (720 per month) if it isn’t fixed. That’s why it’s so important to address this problem as soon as it’s detected!

Reuse as much water as possible

One of the times when we waste the most water is right before we take a shower, while we let it run to warm up. Well, this is the best example of how we can take steps to reuse that water, because we can take the opportunity to fill any container (there are even bags designed for this purpose) with this water, in order to store it and use it for something else later, such as watering plants or mopping.

Install water sprayers and aerators

If you install simple aerator filters on every faucet in your home, you’ll reduce the amount of water you use and, as a result, significantly cut down on water waste. You’ll hardly notice the difference in flow, since the water will be mixed with air, but by the end of the month, you’ll see that your water usage has gone down, making your bill more manageable.

Smart Use in the Garden or by the Pool

If our home has a yard or a pool, it’s essential to take specific steps to prevent water waste. For example, we should design an appropriate irrigation system for our garden, taking into account the placement of its components (such as sprinklers), the flow rate, and the area it covers; and we should also use it properly, avoiding watering during the hottest part of the day. And, in the case of a pool, it’s advisable to avoid draining it during periods of inactivity (simply covering it and performing preventive maintenance will suffice), as well as installing a closed-loop filtration system.

Saving Water at Home: An Effort Worth Making

As you’ve just seen, preventing water waste at home is quite simple if we understand why it happens and which activities contribute to it the most. So don’t hesitate to save this article and keep it handy, since following its tips will be doubly beneficial for you: on the one hand, it will help you save money at the end of the month; and on the other, it will help you protect the environment.

We recommend:

• 7 Tips for Preventing Indoor Air Pollution
• How to Save on Air Conditioning This Summer