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A post shared by ecofolks (@ecofolks) on Sep 15, 2019 at 5:00am PDT

According to the EPA, the average American family of four goes through 400 gallons of water each day.

That’s 100 gallons per person!

Water is one of our planet’s most valuable resources, meaning that we need to become better about how we use it. By following these steps together, we can cut the costs of our water bills, serve our communities, and know that our actions are making a positive impact on the world we live in.

1. Prioritize breaking bad water habits.

Our first step should be to fix habits such as leaving the water running while we’re brushing our teeth or shaving. Most bathroom faucets run at two gallons of water per minute, which really adds up! By turning off the tap, individuals can save hundreds of gallons of precious water.

Another method of saving water is to stop taking extended showers and turn the water off while you shampoo your hair. Showers make up nearly 17 percent of household indoor water use. You can cut back on this by reducing the length of your showers and upgrading to a showerhead that uses less water.

2. Repurpose water.

We should not only be purposeful about reducing how much water we use, but also be more creative about how we can repurpose the water that we have already utilized. For example, you can reuse the water you use to rinse off your fruits and vegetables. Put a bowl underneath the colander to catch the water. You can then use it to water your garden.

Be proactive about looking for ways to reuse water. Even small amounts, like a dropped ice cube or unfinished glass of water, can be reused to water houseplants!

3. Change how you eat and drink.

Another way of reducing our water footprint is to eat more vegetables instead of meat. Livestock requires extremely high amounts of water. When you do eat meat, opt for pasture-raised products, as they don’t require as much water.

Consider eating meatless meals even just one day a week. We should also avoid processed foods, as it takes lots of water to process them. Instead, choose whole grains and leafy vegetables.

Did you know that a single cup of coffee has a water footprint of 37 gallons? By cutting back on our coffee consumption or switching to tea, we can make a difference.

Water is our planet’s most precious resource, and we need to be careful not to squander it! Preserving water starts at home. We can begin by fixing any wasteful habits, repurposing water instead of pouring it down the drain, and changing the way we eat and drink.