http://www.care2.com/greenliving/calculate-your-water-footprint.html
Calculate Your Water Footprint
Every drop counts when it comes to water conservation.
Make the most of the water you use in your home. Consider taking shorter showers. Invest in a low–flow toilet or put a plastic bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush. Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving. Run dishwashers or laundry machines only when full. Use water left over from cooking for houseplants.
Choose landscaping plants with low water requirements. A typical lawn requires regular watering to maintain its “greenness.” Consider reducing your lawn size and replacing turf grass with native plants, shrubs, and trees that generally grow well without a lot of excess watering.
Eat foods that require less water to produce. The amount of water used to produce animal products and processed foods like soda and chips far exceeds the amount used for growing vegetables and grains. When grocery shopping, try to buy more whole foods like vegetables that are in season, and a variety of grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Patronize businesses with sound water conservation practices. Many services you enjoy consume water unnecessarily. For instance, find out if any of your local car wash establishments recycle their wash water, and give your business to the one with the best water conservation practices.
Carry a refillable water container rather than buying bottled water. Production, transportation, and disposal of bottled water consume large quantities of water (and energy). You can actually conserve water by switching from the bottle to the tap.
Calculate your Water Footprint
• 1 lb plastic = 24 gallons of water
• 1 lb cotton > 100 gallons of water
• Average American = 1,189.3 gallons of water per day.
Do you know how much water you really use? Calculate your water footprint using our new online water calculator.
Food & Water Watch is an organization dedicated to the belief that the public should be able to count on our government to oversee and protect the quality and safety of food and water. For more information, go to www.foodandwaterwatch.org.
More from Mel, selected from Food & Water Watch (17 articles available)
related stories
-
(4 comments)
-
(55 comments)
-
(2 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
35 comments
add your comment »Thanks Mel!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Tim I am so glad you mentioned having plenty of water yet still being water wise. One of the best things we did years ago was install the water restrictors on the bathroom faucets which still provided plenty of water but not the gusher that one gets when they turn the water on. And installing misters and drip systems in the yard, and a soaker hose in the vegetable garden has saved LOTS of water. And I even use the waterless car brushes to wash the car, and only water wash once a month. And I always use a nozzle so that the water isn't simply running while washing the car or the windows.
~Beth~
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I am fortunate to live in a place where water is plentiful but I still conserve. I have added water saving showerheads and reduced the flow on the sinks along with other measures. My best conservation was tapping a spring on my hillside for our drinking water. No more buying spring water. In fact, we saved the recyclable bottles and just fill them up over and over.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Water is the one thing that we have to little of, so use it carefully.
Arild
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
The H2O calculator is really good - I have forwarded it to my friends.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
It is the small steps everyone takes each day that will make the biggest impact. Like turning the water when brushing your teeth.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Jessica Min the link for doing the test is at the end of the article. Try this link.
http://www.h2oconserve.org/home.php?pd=index
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
How to calculate and reduce water footprints?
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I have seen local council employees watering flower-beds,and far too much water going to waste by overdoing it.Flowing along the roads and then into the drains. Councils should care a lot more.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
ve seen water flowing along gutters in the road where folk over-water their lawns. Greater penalties shoul d be given to those `don`t care people.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: