Water Conservation for Kids

Our kids always learn in school that 70% of the Earth is covered by water. Even though less than 1% is available for human use, there are at least 36 states in our country that are projecting water shortages in 2013 according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Here are a few other facts from the EPA about water conservation that we can discuss with our kids:

Every individual American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day at home.
We can all use 30 percent less water by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances in our homes.
The average household spends as much as $500 per year on their water and sewer bill and can save about $170 per year by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances.
Approximately 5 to 10 percent of American homes have water leaks that drip away 90 gallons a day or more!

Knowing this information, I thought I’d share five tips to teach your kids water conservation at home.

Limit bath time. Typically you use much less water while taking a shower versus taking a bath. An average bath takes about 30-50 gallons of water, while a shower uses only 10-20 gallons.
Teach your kids to keep the water off while brushing their teeth, only running the water when rinsing.
Sure it’s fun to wash your car with the kiddos, but you can also use up to 150 gallons of water while doing it! Take a trip to the carwash together, where they only use about 50 gallons.
Save water and keep your plants healthy by using left over ice cubes from your water glass to water your plants by simply placing 3-4 cubes into your flower pot. Use more ice cubes for larger pots.
Run your washing machine and dishwasher only while they are full. By doing this, you can save up to 1,000 gallons of water per month!