Environmental
awareness and attitudes to the conservation of natural resources have changed
significantly over the last few years and decades. What is more, the technology
and methods that are now available to would-be conservationists can, even on a
small domestic scale, make a significant contribution to the effort of saving
water. Fresh water and drinking water may well become an even more valuable
resource in the future. Therefore, a few simple steps now can help households
to save a potentially precious resource, saving money at the same time.
Tips on conserving water to benefit homes and
households
With
help and advice from local companies such as Jim Dandy emergency plumbers, a number of
beneficial water conservation techniques can be put to use. These can include
apparently small actions and much larger conservation projects on a domestic
scale. A few of the practical smaller steps can be carried out immediately, and
the benefits may even be visible on the next water bill. Many of these steps
involve ensuring that a household consumes only as much water, as it actually
needs. Very frequently, additional water is used by mistake or needlessly, such
as through a faucet that has been left dripping or through a toilet that
flushes an inappropriately large quantity of water. Tackling these issues need
not involve a large investment.
Cost benefits of saving water
A
household can consume an enormous amount of fresh water each week, and this will
be reflected in the utilities bill. The meter does not differentiate between
water that is used for showering and water that is lost through dripping
faucets, overfilled baths, or unsuitably large toilet flushes. Both intentional
and unintentional water usage costs a household money. Therefore, there can be great cost benefits
to be had in checking and updating faucets, in changing to a dual-flush toilet
or other modern bathroom technology, and in educating household members in how
to use no more water than is necessary when bathing, cooking, or watering the
garden.
Environmental benefits of saving water
There
are, of course, environmental benefits as well as financial benefits to be
gained from the smart use of water. For example, fresh water that is drawn from
the surroundings for domestic use may deprive other elements of the environment
from necessary supplies. In Seattle, this may be seen in the effect on water
levels in rivers. A drop in water level in the river system can affect human
uses, such as boating and fishing, as well as the natural users of the water,
including fish and the other animals and plants that make up a healthy, diverse
ecological river system.
Furthermore,
innovative efforts have been made to enable households to improve the quality and
quantity of fresh water available to them. These efforts include the
installation of domestic and neighborhood rain gardens that work to collect and
filter rainwater, reducing the levels of pollution in the water. Furthermore,
such rain gardens have in many cases become attractive visual features in their
own right.
Seattle Public Utilities
has issued a statement indicating they will need to raise rates nearly
30% over the next 6 years for residential garbage, sewer, water, and
storm water collection to keep up with current service demands.
According to the Seattle Times,
the average bimonthly bill will increase $16 each year, and SPU wants
to hear from the public on the issue, and will be holding public
meetings beginning next month to seek feedback. 
