Strategies for Enhancing Water Utilization Efficiency
Revamped Guide:
Water Conservation: Making Every Drop Count
In the face of climate change and growing populations, it's crucial to make our cities more sustainable, and that includes laboring less for water. Here's a guide filled with tips, from simple tweaks to impressive retrofits, to make your home and city more water-wise.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Eco-Friendly Renovations
While energy efficiency takes center stage in most discussions, let's not forget about water. Unfortunately, water isn't as frequently mentioned in the limelight. Nevertheless, it's a precious resource, and it's up to us to use it wisely, especially if you're blessed with plenty.
Greening Up
Floods in metropolitan areas aren't all bad news; they bring opportunities. Green roofs, walls, and vertical gardens absorb and store CO2 and HO2, aiding in pollution reduction. They can store around 30 liters of water per square meter [1]. Seize this non-potable water for toilet cisterns or laundry. Add a water butt for additional rainwater harvesting, which can save funds on expensive tap water.
Consult professionals before jumping in to make sure your building can handle the extra weight. Add waterproofing to protect your property and incorporate a drainage system to prevent overwhelming your roof. Insulating drainage units are a handy solution [2].
For lighter roofs, modular roofing provides an alternative water storage and filtering solution, though it's less insulating [3].
Dry Regions, Wet Innovations
In arid regions, water scarcity is a big issue exacerbated by growing populations. In Chile's Atacama Desert, homes harness fog to gather water for daily needs, collecting around 40 liters per 1.4 square meters with a 15-square-foot net [4]. In Morocco, this method slowed rural-to-urban migration and eased water management in densely populated cities [5].
District Solutions
Rain and Drain
Traditional engineering solutions to mitigate excessive precipitation in cities involve constructing over-sized sewers, floodwalls, and retention basins—large, costly, and disruptive projects. Benthemplein, a square in Rotterdam, illustrates an alternative. Now a water square, it offers public spaces for leisure and performance, and a reservoir in times of heavy rainfall. Up to 1.7 million liters of water can be stored! Wastewater pipes from nearby roofs are disconnected from the sewage system and led to the square [6].
Save the Swales
Sustainable drainage systems, like swales, are crucial for protecting properties from excessive stormwater. Swales consist of wide, shallow ditches that collect rainwater, preventing runoff and reducing flooding risks. Plant-filled swales slow the release of water into the water table, avoiding overloading of sewers [7].
Modernize Your Appliances
Toilet Tactics
Flushing accounts for about 30% of household water usage. Some older toilets use up to 13 liters per flush, while the average is still a whopping 9 liters [8]. Modern latrines are more efficient, offering dual flush buttons, time-release handles, or cistern displacement devices to save water.
Shower Savvy
The average US shower uses 16 gallons (60 liters) of water in eight minutes [9]. Cut this to 5 minutes, and you'll slash water use. Pair it with a low-flow showerhead for further savings up to 60%.
Consider your environment when selecting a showerhead—laminar flow creates less steam and is best for damper climates, while aerating showerheads release a fine mist, which generates less humidity and reduces the risk of harmful mold formation [9].
Don't ignore the bath. Fill it to the right level, and if you can't bathe in it, shower instead—it uses less water.
Greywater Recycling
Capture wastewater for laundry and irrigation. Greywater can be used for plants and vegetable gardens with proper filtration. Be mindful of soap traces [10].
Be Efficient, Not Wasteful
Boiling Smartly
Kettles are approximately 40% more efficient than stovetop heating. Nevertheless, heating more water than necessary wastes energy and water. Only boil what you need to avoid waste.
Lather Up
Turn off the tap when washing, whether it's brushing your teeth, lathering soap, or shaving. A 200-gallon (750-liter) monthly waste!
Change Perspectives
Recycled water needs a positive image boost. Water scarcity is already a stark reality, with 1.6 billion people lacking access to water and four billion expected to live in water-stressed areas by 2050 [11]. We must all conserve every drop and adjust our habits to promote efficient water use.
References:[1] Cindrić, H. (2018). Cities Alive: Rethinking Cities in Arid Environments. Arup. https://www.arup.com/perspectives/publications/research/section/cities-alive-cities-in-arid-environments[2] The New Humanitarian. (2021, April 2). World Water Day 2021: Asia loses billions each year to urban leaks. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2021/03/30/asia-loses-billions-each-year-urban-leaks[3] United Nations World Water Development Report 2021. (2021). UNESCO.[4] The University of Florida. (n.d.). Greywater Reuse Management.[5] The University of New Mexico. (n.d.). Water Harvesting in Dryland Areas.[6] C40 Cities. (2020, September 28). Water Sensitive Cities. https://www.c40.org/resources/water-sensitive-cities[7] Indianapolis Cultural Trail. https://indyculturaltrail.org/resources/sustainability-design-projects/[8] United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). WaterSense. https://www.epa.gov/watersense[9] United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). WaterSense Showerhead Specification. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/waterSense-showerhead-specification[10] New Mexico State University. (n.d.). Greywater Use, Storage, and Disposal Guidelines.[11] United Nations. (2018, March 22). World Water Day 2018. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wwd/
- In the realm of environmental science, it's essential to explore the use of sustainable living practices like graywater recycling, especially for laundry and irrigation in home-and-garden settings.
- To conserve water and promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle, consider modernizing your appliances, such as installing efficient toilets and low-flow showerheads, helping to reduce household water usage significantly.
- For home improvement projects, implementing green solutions in your city, like green roofs or vertical gardens, can aid in pollution reduction and serve as an excellent water storage method for non-potable water use.
- In arid regions like Chile’s Atacama Desert, innovative water-harnessing techniques, such as those used for fog collection, demonstrate how homeowners can adapt to water scarcity and contribute to a water-wise lifestyle in their homes and gardens.
