World Water Day: Simple tips to save water

When it comes to implementation, the UN is dependent on the help of everyone. Even if it is hardly noticeable in western countries, water scarcity affects everyone: only 2.5 percent of the world's water supplies are freshwater. A large part of it is stored in glaciers or as groundwater, so that we have just 0.3 percent available - and the trend is falling.

Despite the alarming numbers, Germans use around 128 liters of water every day, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This value can be significantly reduced with small adjustments in everyday life.

The golden rule in dealing with water responsibly is: Only turn on the tap for as long as you need the water. Means: No water runs while soaping up or brushing your teeth. Anyone who washes fruit or vegetables under the running water also uses water unnecessarily. It is better to use a bowl filled with water. The water can then be used to water plants.

Dripping faucets are not only an acoustic nuisance, they also waste up to 45 liters of water per day. Defects are therefore worth repairing immediately.

Speaking of water wasters: This also includes dishwashers or washing machines that run when they are half empty. Only turning them on when they are full saves water and energy. However, only stack dishes or laundry so tightly that water can run through them. Tip: If the laundry drum fills up slowly, it is sufficient to hang out briefly worn items of clothing in the fresh air to air them out.

If you are planning to buy a new device, you should pay attention to its water consumption when buying it. It is stated on the energy efficiency label. While washing machines used to use up to 100 liters of water per wash, a 40-degree wash now only needs half that. In order to keep water and electricity consumption low, modern devices are equipped with economy or eco modes.

Incidentally, more and more shower heads also have an economy mode. They add air to the flowing water and thus save water. Aerators or flow limiters work on a similar principle. Once installed, they reduce water consumption by up to 50 percent. If you take a shower instead of a bath, you use up to three times less water anyway, depending on the duration and intensity of the shower.

You can also save water when going to the toilet: use the small flush button whenever possible and end the process by pressing the stop button. Dripping toilet flushes waste water and should be repaired.

In addition to the bathroom and kitchen, the garden also needs liters of water. It could almost be watered by itself. Set up a barrel, collect the rainwater and then use it for watering. To prevent evaporation and to protect pets from drowning, cover the keg with a lid.

Anyone who realizes when watering that the lawn requires an unusually large amount of water should reconsider their mowing behavior. Excessive trimming will dry out the grass. On the other hand, if it is longer, it provides shade and offers the sun a smaller surface.

If fruit and vegetables do not grow in your own garden, local and seasonal foods should end up in your shopping basket wherever possible. They are adapted to our climatic conditions and therefore do not consume huge amounts of water. The situation is different with imported goods: 27,000 or 20,000 liters of water are required to produce one kilogram of cocoa or coffee.

Around 8,000 liters of water are needed before a pair of jeans is in the shop. So the next time you buy pants, it's worth browsing in the second-hand shop or choosing environmentally friendly alternatives. The cultivation of linen or hemp requires a quarter less water than that of cotton.

Leisure activities can also be made sustainable. To keep the ecological footprint as small as possible, avoid amusement parks or golf courses. The same applies to holiday regions that suffer from water shortages. Even if this is not the case, water should be used sparingly on vacation, just like at home.

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