How to save water in the kitchen

More water is used in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home, so it’s a good place to start applying conservation measures. Here’s how to save water in the kitchen and make every drop count.

Although 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% is drinkable. And the supply is dwindling! Already, according to the UN, one person in eight does not have access to usable water. Additionally over 3,5 million lives are lost annually from water sanitation diseases. Consequently, conserving water should be a green priority for every household.

Water conservation

Water conservation starts not with the garden or bathroom, but with the kitchen. The  kitchen actually accounts for the bulk of water usage in most homes. You can cut your water usage significantly by just changing a few everyday habits. Here are some measures that can be used to save water in the kitchen.

1. Close the tap

Do not let the tap run when you’re;

• Washing your hands.
• Washing fruit or veggies.
• Defrosting frozen food.

Your hands can effectively be cleaned and washed in a bowl of soapy water. Wash all produce in a plastic bowl, defrost the food overnight in the fridge and keep a jug or bottle of iced water in there too, instead of letting the tap run in summer until the water gets cold enough to drink.

2. Watch what you eat

The next step is to consider where your food comes from. Locally grown natural foods are a better and healthier option than processed foods. Water is needed in food preparation and on average processed foods require much more in comparison to natural foods.

3. Install aerators

Another easy and inexpensive way to save water is to install and maintain aerators on your kitchen taps. These are small mesh screens that screw on and they reduce the flow of water through the taps, without reducing the water pressure, by mixing it with air.

4. Dishwashers

If you use a dishwasher, you should make sure that it is an Energy Star-rated model. This will use significantly less water than older models. In addition newer dishwashers also have a rinse cycle so you don’t need to hand rinse dishes.

5. Washing machines

The norm in many modern homes is that the washing machine is also to be found in the kitchen. When it comes to machine wash use it is best to run the machine only when you have a full load. Unless you have a model that will do half loads with half the amount of water.

Finally you can consider installing a rainwater tank and connecting it up to your kitchen plumbing. This is an excellent way to significantly reduce your water usage.