Water is life and often, we use it once and it goes down the drain without a second thought for its actual worth. As scarcity of water becomes a more common experience in many places across the globe, the need for reusing water becomes increasingly important.
Reusing water is a simple concept: it means giving used water a second assignment. A few easy changes to your daily practices can save water, conserve the environment, and save on your bills. This article covers common, safe, and impactful options for reusing wastewater in your home, and why considering how and where we reuse water has never been more important.
Why Actions to Reuse Water Matter
Fresh water is finite. While earth’s surface appears blue from orbit, the amount of water available for human consumption is only a fraction of the total. As population grows and climate patterns shift, stress on our water sources increases. Reuse of wastewater can help reduce some of this stress. Reuse involves using the same water for a different purpose before it enters the drain.
When you reuse water, you’re not relying on “fresh” water from the faucet, well or municipal supply. This small action has an effect on communities dealing with inadequate water supply. It also helps the environment by reducing the amount of wastewater entering our lakes and rivers.
Polluted water (not-clean water) entering natural water bodies can create pollution and impacts on aquatic life. Reusing water is a practice that can reduce, or avoid, these impacts.
Reusing water promotes environmental responsibility, as well as economic feasibility. Households which reuse water often report as much as 50% decrease in their water bills. Reusing water is a double bonus for your house and the planet.
Easy Ways to Recycle Water at Home
There is no need for expensive techniques or massive changes to recycle water; it is just a matter of adopting simple habits that are incorporated into your daily life.
1. Recycle kitchen water
If you have washed vegetables, fruits, rice, or pulses, the water you are using would still be acceptable to use for non-drinking purposes. Instead of putting it down the drain, use a separate bowl to collect kitchen water.
The nutrient-rich water can be repurposed to water indoor or outdoor plants, clean balconies, wash vehicles and for mopping floors. You can also use drinking water leftover from bottles or glasses for the same purpose instead of pouring the water down the drain.
2. Utilize Laundry Water.
Washing machines consume a lot of water. It is possible to reuse the water from the second rinse cycle, which can be used again because it has less soap residue. Collect the water from the second rinse cycle and use it to flush the toilet, wash doormats, or wash off outside items.
If you are using gentle, biodegradable detergents, the laundry water can be even safer for reuse. However, if you are going to reuse it to water plants, just ensure the detergent is plant-safe.
3. Save Bath or Shower Water
Another simple water-saving habit is to put some sort of container in your bathroom. For example, you can easily reuse water that flows when you are waiting for the shower to warm up. You can collect water from the remainder of your bath or shower.
This water can also be very useful when used for mopping floors, cleaning your bathroom sink or shower, and perhaps even washing the outside of your house. Even this small water-saving habit can have a great impact over a month and save hundreds of liters of fresh water.
4. Recycle Water from Air Conditioners and Reverse Osmosis Systems
Water that is generated by air conditioners and reverse osmosis purifiers is often clean wastewater, that people tend to waste. Water from AC is often mineral free, making it suitable for watering plants, ironing clothes, or refilling mop buckets. The reverse osmosis water is slightly saline, but could be appropriate for washing dishes (if not boiling) or for outdoor cleaning, and watering plants, depending on water levels.
Advantages of Water Reuse
Implementing water reuse has multiple advantages for your home, your budget, and the environment:
- Decreases Fresh Water Demand: You reduce dependence on fresh water supplies and ultimately conserve water for the long run.
- Saves Money Monthly: Because you’re using less fresh water supply, you save money.
- Environmentally Conscious Lifestyle: You create less wastewater that goes down the drain, all with the intention of protecting rivers and lakes and the ecosystems surrounding them.
- Cultivates Conscientious Habits: Reusing water allows us to be more mindful and accountable in our daily lives.
- Saves Community Resources: Each household that reuses water contributes to the overall water demand becoming less and provides water for everyone in the community.
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