Water conservation is the practice of using water efficiently to reduce unnecessary water usage. It includes all the policies, strategies, and activities to sustainably manage the natural resource of fresh water, to protect the hydrosphere, and to meet the current and future human demand. The aims of water conservation efforts include ensuring the availability of water for future generations where the withdrawal of freshwater from an ecosystem does not exceed its natural replacement rate, energy conservation, and habitat conservation where minimizing human water usage helps to preserve freshwater habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, but also water quality.
Conservation of water is critical for the environment and our wallets. Fresh clean water is a limited resource, and as a homeowner, you’re probably already well aware of the financial costs of inefficient water use. America’s population has doubled over the last half-century, and our demand for water has tripled. Water conservation is more important than ever, and the world is looking for tips on saving water.
There are several strategies to conserve water, including:
- Using water-efficient appliances and fixtures
- Fixing leaks promptly
- Collecting and using rainwater
- Planting drought-tolerant plants
- Reducing outdoor water usage, such as for irrigation
By making conservation a way of life, we can save water, minimize water waste, rebuild our underground aquifers, prepare for the uncertainties of climate change, and minimize the harmful effects of drought.
