10 Ways to Save Water in the Kitchen

In modern societies, it’s easy to take necessities for granted. We have water available to us in our homes, in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, even some garages. A flick of the faucet handle provides us with all we need, so why worry? Well, it’s estimated that 40 or more states could face serious conditions if we aren’t more concerned about how water is used. Americans have a lot of work to do toward making conserving water a habit in our busy lifestyles. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your water footprint. Here are some great ways to save water in the kitchen.

1. Recycle

Recycling plastics, papers, and cardboard is a great way to reduce your water footprint. It takes less natural resources to make items from recycled products than it does to process the material from scratch. Choose products made from recycled materials and those that can be recycled. (Check with your local trash collection company to learn which products can be recycled in your area.)

Another way to recycle around the home is to set up a rainwater collection system, to catch rainwater and other runoff from water use like sprinklers. These can be very simple to set up, such as a rain barrel to use for watering the plants, or they can be fitted with a filtering system to serve other needs.

2. Compost

Instead of running scraps of food down the garbage disposal or throwing them in the trash, start a compost pile. With your compost, grow your own veggies and herbs to have fresh produce when you want it. You can even water them with the rainwater you collect.

3. Drink tap water

Each container of bottled water takes 1.5 gallons of water to manufacture, and this doesn’t include the water that you drink. Rather than buy bottled, keep a pitcher of tap water in the refrigerator so there’s always cold, fresh water ready to drink. If you aren’t ready to drink from the tap, get a filter for your faucet. Some water filters even provide hot water ready for tea right out of the tap. Make drinks easy for kids to access to encourage them to drink water.

4. Watch what you eat

Making food takes a lot of water at every step along the way, even before it gets to your home. Processed foods require water-use at the factories, from everything to prepwork to packaging. Whole foods have nutritional benefits and less packaging, giving you more control of what you and your family consume every day.

Grow your own herbs and vegetables in reusable or biodegradable containers to have fresh produce available year round without having to buy it. (It’s less expensive than buying from the grocery store, too.)

Reduce your coffee intake, because coffee takes a lot of water to produce. Nuts, too, have a high water footprint, especially nut milks.

Animal products, like meat and dairy, require water to grow and water to package and prepare. Cows, pigs, and chickens eat large amounts of corn and soybeans, which are water-intensive crops. Eat more vegetables and choose pasture-raised meat products, dairy, and eggs. Go meatless on Monday. Choose seasonal, local produce which not only reduces your water footprint, but also your carbon footprint.

Don’t forget to look at the food your pet eats. Look for eco-conscious food, with healthy, individually listed ingredients, or make their food at home. Talk to your vet to understand what is healthiest for your furry family member.

5. Cook with less water

Learning to cook with less water may seem intimidating, but you can do it. The hardest part is finding kitchen shortcuts to avoid needlessly running your faucet when you’re cooking.

If you have vegetables and fruit to wash, use a soft brush to clean them. Steam your vegetables if you don’t need to boil them. Rather than defrost under the warm water of the kitchen faucet, make sure to put frozen food in the fridge the night before or use the microwave instead. If you boil pasta or potatoes, use just enough water to submerge them. Save the boiled water for other cooking; for instance, potato water can be used in making homemade bread. Keep a bucket in your kitchen to collect leftover water to use when watering plants.

6. Wash dishes consciously

The trick in conserving water is to not let the water run any more than needed. If you wash dishes by hand, plug the sink and fill it a few inches with soapy water for washing. Wait until you have a few dishes cleaned to turn on the faucet for rinsing. If it’s time for an upgrade, you can choose an energy- and water-efficient dishwasher to save money, effort, and time over washing dishes by hand. It can save about 15 gallons of water per load. A good habit to maintain is to only run the dishwasher when it is full.

7. Fix leaks

Leaks may seem small, but over time, you can lose a lot of water. Replace worn gaskets and washers to prevent water from going down the drain. Perform a regular inspection on all water connections to ensure they’re operating properly. It shouldn’t take much time and provides you with peace of mind that you aren’t losing money.

8. Install water-saving appliances

Manufacturers know that homeowners want eco-friendly homes. There are many products which can make your kitchen more sustainable. Choose ENERGY-STAR appliances, like your refrigerator or dishwasher. Look for aerated faucets to reduce the amount of water flowing out of the faucet or sidespray. Update your water heater if it’s older. Check your dishwasher and washing machine to make sure they are energy- and water-efficient. It might be worth investing in new appliances if any are getting older.

9. Wash clothes water-consciously

It’s best to have a water-efficient washer for staying earth-friendly in the laundry room, but there are other ways to help. Wait until you have a full load to wash clothes, so every drop of water is put to good use. You can also reuse items of clothing before putting them in the laundry; jeans can be worn a couple of times before they need to be washed. Hanging up clothes and towels after use can keep them fresher without needing to be washed so often. Another way is to make sure you’re using the right amount of detergent to get clothes clean the first time, without an extra rinse. It also helps to use cold water to wash clothes.  Avoid purchasing items for daily use that require dry cleaning.

10. Get a water audit

Your local water authority or a plumber can give you a review of your water consumption and offer ways you can save money. Some areas will provide free products and services to help you reduce your water footprint, even rebate programs for updates and remodels. A company in New Mexico offers free installation of low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and auto-shutoff hose nozzles. Check with your municipality to see what you have available in your water district.