10 Tips to Conserving Water at Home

Although almost 70% of the world is made out of water it is important to conserve it. So today we thought we might share 10 simple tips on conserving water in your home.

1.     Check faucets and pipes for leaks.

2.     Insulate your water pipes.

3.     Take shorter showers.

4.     Rinse your razor in the sink.

5.     Turn off water after you have wetted your toothbrush.

6.     Use the washer and dishwasher for only full loads.

7.     Minimize use of kitchen sink garbage disposal.

8.     Water your lawn only when it is needed.

9.     Don’t run water when washing your car.

10. Use a broom, not a hose, when cleaning your driveway or the sidewalk.

What do you do to conserve water in your home?

Sources: earth easy

Bottled vs Tap Water

Many people may ask: what is the difference between tap and bottled water. Some believe that bottled water is better than tap water. And for a while I thought so to. But after doing research on the subject for this blog post I was surprised but what I learned.
While tap and bottled water essentially come from the same sources (lakes, springs and aquifers) the biggest difference is how they are regulated. Tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) while bottled water is regulated by the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA).
The majority of tap water in the US meets EPA's drinking water standards which regulates levels of 90 different contaminants. Tap water suppliers are subject to broader scrutiny and are tested several times a day. By law they are required to publish and circulate an annual Consumer Confidence Report in which they share their sources of water and any contaminants found.
On the other side bottled water is less well-regulated. The FDA requires bottlers to test once a week, once a year, or  once every four years depending on the contaminant. They are also not required to share contaminant episodes with customers. While bottled water is not contaminated from the lead in the pipes it may contain chemicals that leach out of plastic bottle that are often made from PET, or Polyethylene Terephthalate. Nationwide only 15% of water bottles get recycled every year.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Water Facts: Water in Third World Countries

Here is the US we can take for granted our easy access to clean water. But for many living in third world or developing countries that is not the case. So for this blog post we decided to share ten facts and statistics about water in third world countries.

1.     884 million people (1 in 8) lack access to safe water supplies. 87% of those people live in Sub-Sahara Africa

2.     80% of illness in developing countries are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions.

3.     3.5 million people die each year of water related diseases.

4.     Nearly 1 out of every 5 deaths of children 5 or younger worldwide are due to water related illness. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of child death. Diarrhea is caused by poor sanitation, hygiene, or dirty drinking water.

5.     64% (two thirds) of households rely on women to get family’s water. They walk a average of 3.5 miles a day and a average of 15 hours per week.

6.     The United Nations estimates that Sub-Sahara Africa alone loses 40 billion hours per year collecting water.

7.     By 2025, the proportion of the world’s population living in water-stressed countries is set to increase by two thirds.

8.     Clean water is one aspect of improving sustainable food production in order to reduce poverty and hunger.

9.     Less than 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

10. 2 out of 3 people who need safe drinking water survive on less than $2 a day.

Sources: DoSomething.org, The Water Project