Save water: Simple ideas to cut water wastage at home

Conservation of water is an essential practice today, whether or not you’re having water troubles at the moment. Simple changes can help save gallons of water a day. So make these changes and help conserve water.

Washing veggies and fruits: Soak fruits and vegetables in a pot of water instead of putting them under running water to wash them.

Water plants with water used to wash them: When you’re done with soaking your fruits and veggies, don’t throw the water down the drain, instead use it to water indoor plants.

Don’t leave the tap open while brushing your teeth: Well, you’ve heard this one many times before. While brushing your teeth, wet the brush and turn off the tap. If you keep the tap running, you’re bound to waste litres of water in a week. Try and get your family to practice this too.

Conserve water while washing dishes: When you wash your dishes put a stopper to the sink drain and fill it with water. When all the dishes have been scrubbed, rinse them of in that water.

Get your toilet fixed: If you’re toilet is running, get it fixed. It’s most likely a part of the flapper that’s causing the leak, adjust it; if that doesn’t work, get a plumber.

Get any other leakage fixed, too:The same applies to any leaking tap around the house… Make sure you get them fixed. All they might need is a new washer, and that isn’t too expensive. Also, look for any leaking pipes around the house.

Soak pans before washing them: Soak pots and pans in water after use. This will save water while you’re trying to scrub off later on.

Shorten your shower: Try and reduce your showering time. One way to cut down on your water usage, is to turn of the shower while soaping your body and shampooing your hair. Ask your family to adopt this practice, too. Better still, install water-saving shower-heads. They’ll save you loads of water.

Defrost in the microwave: You don’t need to use running water to defrost frozen food. Instead stick it in the microwave for defrosting, or remove your frozen food and leave it out in advance.

Use your washing machine only for full loads: If you use a washing machine, only wash full loads of laundry at a time. Also, if you’re shopping for a washing machine, experts are of the opinion that top-loading machines use more water than front-loading ones. So you might be better off buying the latter.

Don’t use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket: Every time you flush a cigarette butt, tissue or any other piece of trash, you waster tonnes of water.

Rinse your razor in a mug: To rinse off your razor, either fill the sink with a few inches of warm water or a mug. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.

Instead of running water, use a broom to clean your driveways and corridors. You can wash them with water every once in while though.

Don’t run the hose to wash your car: To clean your car or bike, use a bucket of soapy water. After that’s done, dip a sponge in clean water and wipe off soap. This way you’ll save litres of water.

Summer Tips - Stay hydrated this summer

As the summer season arrives in full force in the subcontinent, the best thing you can do to beat the heat is to stay hydrated.

Your body depends on water for survival. After all, it makes up more than half of our body weight and every organ in the body needs water to function. Don’t wait for symptoms of dehydration like extreme thirst, dry mouth, and headache to act.

Reed the following tips to stay hydrated this summer season.

Don’t wait to get thirsty this summer. The fact is that by the time your mouth is dry, you’re well on your way to dehydration. As water is the best natural drink available, guzzle at least 2 litres a day.

Be sensible about the amount of water you drink. If you are exercising or going out in the hot sun you will need to drink more water.

Make drinking water a mindless habit. Let it be part of your early morning routine. Keep a bottle within easy reach while you are relaxing in front of the television or working on the computer. Take regular sips even if you are not feeling thirsty. Drink a glass of water before every meal.

Eating water-based foods is a great way to supplement your water intake and stay hydrated. Eat fruits like watermelon and pineapple rather than drinking the juice. They are cooling and perfect for hot summer days. They have high water content and are rich in minerals. Another perfect fruit for summer months is the apricot as it is good for fluid retention. Honeydew melon, commonly known as muskmelon cools the body so gorge on it. The vitamin C and minerals present in these fruits are an added benefit.

Munch on cucumbers and tomatoes. These foods have more than 90% of their weight in water content.

* In summer we sweat more and lose essential minerals from our bodies. Cucumbers are a cool way to put the potassium back and they also contain ascorbic and caffeic acids, compounds that help us stay hydrated because of their moisture retaining properties.

* Fresh citrus fruits such as orange, grapefruits, lemon and lime are excellent as they not only hydrate the body but also provide valuable nutrients.

Take a break from coffee this summer and sip the benefits of green tea. Enjoy it with lemon, as it will keep the body from retaining water. Herbal iced teas are also great thirst quenchers. Be adventurous and mix and match flavours.

Enjoy the miracle of tender coconut water. It hydrates perfectly as it has the exact proportion of electrolytes as human cells and plasma. It also contains a host of vitamins and minerals.