Water Conservation Tips: 5 Everyday Actions to Support Clean Water Availability and Sustainability

Water scarcity is a pressing issue that affects over 2 billion people around the world. In addition to affecting access to clean water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation, water scarcity can also lead to food insecurity, conflict, and economic instability in affected regions. But even in areas where water is abundant, it is important to conserve and ensure long-term sustainability for all of us!

Here are five everyday actions that you can take to conserve water and support clean water sustainability and availability:

1. Fix leaks

Leaks are a major source of wasted water. A dripping faucet or a leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water each month. To conserve water and reduce your water bill, it’s important to fix any leaks as soon as possible. Check your faucets, showerheads, and toilets regularly for leaks, and replace any worn-out washers or gaskets.

2. Use water-efficient appliances

Many household appliances use a lot of water. Washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets are among the biggest water users in the home. To conserve water, consider upgrading to water-efficient appliances that use less water per cycle. Look for appliances that have the WaterSense label, which indicates that they meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s water efficiency standards.

3. Shorten showers

Showers are another major source of water usage in the home. To conserve water, try to limit your shower time to five minutes or less. You can also install a low-flow showerhead, which can reduce the amount of water used by up to 50% without sacrificing water pressure.

4. Collect rainwater

Rainwater harvesting is a simple and effective way to conserve water. By collecting rainwater in a rain barrel or other container, you can use it to water plants, wash cars, and even flush toilets. This can help reduce your dependence on municipal water supplies and save you money on your water bill.

5. Help build water wells in water-scarce areas

While there are many things you can do to conserve water in your own life, you can also make an enormous difference in the lives of others – if you know where to look! Initiatives that promote clean water for people in Africa, where water scarcity affects hundreds of millions of people, are making a huge positive impact on a sustainable world water supply.

For example, nonprofit organizations like Embrace Relief are building water wells in Africa, which tap into vast reserves of underground water that can sustain entire communities for decades to come. Donating to build water wells can help ensure that people around the world have access to clean water, which can improve their health, education, and overall quality of life.

Help Embrace Relief make clean water accessible in Africa!

And what a difference you can make! Since 2013, people like you have been supporting Embrace Relief’s Clean Water Initiative and Fountains of Hope project in sub-Saharan Africa. That’s how we’ve been able to construct or rebuild more than 760 water wells across the countries of Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Tanzania. These wells are currently providing life-giving clean drinking water to more than 760,000 people, and will continue to do so thanks to Embrace Relief’s guarantee to never abandon our wells. Read all about Embrace Relief’s water wells by clicking here.