It is incredibly popular in today’s culture to save energy and reduce a person’s carbon footprint. Residents of the United Kingdom are trying to out “green” each other in an effort to show that they are saving more power than their friends and colleagues. Energy saving ideas are traded the way recipes, money saving ideas and home improvement tips were once traded.

Today, people trade carbon footprint reduction tips just like they used to share cooking ideas or repair hints. It is surprising that with all the attention that people are placing on saving energy that water is still being wasted in vast amounts. Even the residents who have tiny carbon footprints seem to have failed to understand that it is just as important to save water as well!

Would it surprise you to find out that the fresh water resources in the UK are expected to disappear in the next few decades? The wet climates that UK residents take for granted makes this seem impossible, but water experts insist that the fresh water resources are disappearing at a much higher rate than they previously thought. Sadly, the United Kingdom’s fresh water resources are fewer and farther between than those in Syria and in the Sudan. Those are parts of the world that are known for their lack of water and dusty climates.

What is even more amazing is that fresh water is so scarce when it water is relatively easy to conserve. Some of the easiest ways to conserve fresh water are to simply turn off the water faucet when it is not in use. Instead of letting the water run during an entire dental hygiene routine, only turn it on when the toothbrush needs to be rinsed, or when the water cup needs to be filled. When doing dishes, use the water saver function on the dishwasher.

Even a five minute shower can waste more than one hundred litres of water! Wait until there are enough clothes or dishes to fill a load before you run the washing machine or dishwasher. If you like cold water, keep a pitcher of water in your refrigerator instead of running the water until it reaches your desired level of coldness. Don’t over water your yard. These are just a few easy ways to save water.

The amount of water a person uses in a day can be reduced by leaps and bounds and it should be. Water is essential to the survival of all living creatures. Fresh water is a resource that should not be taken for granted. It is just as easy to conserve water as it is to conserve energy and reduce your carbon footprint. Remember, it is just as important to save water as it is to save power!