Water is a priceless, limited natural resource that many people unconsciously (or sometimes consciously) waste every day. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can save water and cut down on wastage.
But if you’re interested in taking your conservation efforts to the next level, you’ll benefit from knowing how to recycle water in your household. Read on to discover surprising ways to reuse water throughout your home.
Why Should You Save Water?
Humans require water to exist and do everyday tasks. Without it, food production would be impossible, and other species would perish as well. However, the fact is that water is not infinite. What the earth possesses at the moment is all there is.
Although water makes up about 70 percent of the earth, a vast majority of this is in the oceans. That leaves about 3 percent of freshwater, but only 0.5 percent of earth’s water is both fresh and accessible to people. Once you realize that everyone on the planet relies on this small percentage of water to live, it’s easier to understand why it’s crucial to conserve water.
Saving water now and finding practical methods for how to recycle water at home goes a long way in protecting the ecosystem and wildlife, as well as ensuring an adequate water supply for future generations.
Simple Ways to Recycle Water
Here are some smart ideas for how to recycle water in your household.
1. Collect Shower Water
Saving some of your shower water is among the most effortless ways to reuse water at home. All you need to do is place an empty bucket under the stream as you wait for the right water temperature. Then, you can use the cold water you collect for watering your garden or flushing the toilet instead of letting it go down the drain. If it’s fairly clean, you can even save it for later to wash your face or brush your teeth.
2. Save Bath Water
While a bath consumes a large amount of water, you can make up for this by scooping out what’s left and using it to flush the toilet, clean the car, wash rugs or curtains, or water the garden. However, you may want to skip the garden if your bath products have harsh chemicals that could harm your plants.
3. Install a Rain Barrel
If you’re wondering how to recycle water from the skies on your own, rain barrels are the answer. Rainwater is mostly clean water that you can put to good use. Simply position the rain barrel you make or buy from your local hardware store under the downspout. You may need to attach a diverter to direct water to the container. It doesn’t take long for the barrel to fill up during the rainy season, providing you with water for your garden, toilet, and various cleaning tasks.
4. Reuse Drinking Water
You may have noticed that drinking glasses or water bottles usually end up with leftover water throughout the day. Avoid waste by making it a habit to take advantage of every drop of unconsumed drinking water. You can use it on your plants or even gather it up to wash utensils or items.
5. Save Water Used for Boiling or Washing Vegetables
Rather than throw away the precious resource you used on edible items, be creative with how you recycle water. Think about reusing it to flush toilets or water the plants. Just be aware that salted pasta water isn’t good for plants. You may reuse this starchy solution to prepare soups instead, but be sure to do so right away to prevent spoilage. Additionally, the water you use to boil vegetables may become soup stock.
6. Consider Installing a Gray Water System
Gray water is essentially wastewater from plumbing systems that does not include the toilet. You may incorporate a gray water recycling system into your plumbing to treat water from showers, washing machines, and hand basins. Then, you could channel the water throughout your home for additional purposes. While gray water cannot be used on food, the water used can significantly minimize waste.
How Much Does It Cost to Recycle Water?
Water agencies spend up to $2,000 or more per acre-ft on recycled water projects. The costs vary widely depending on several factors but are generally about half the amount spent on desalinating ocean water. A gray water system costs around $2,500 on average but may result in water savings of thousands of gallons per year.
Of course, you can carry out most water recycling techniques for free. All you need is a lifestyle change and the commitment to live more sustainably.
Learn More with Kiwi Energy
Educating yourself about how to recycle water helps create a brighter future for everyone. Be more eco-friendly by learning more about Kiwi Guard energy plans. Get started today, or visit our FAQ page for more information.
