This is a year of extreme drought. For example, in Africa, this is the worst drought in the last 50 years. In Europe and China, the lack of rain even allowed us to discover parts of History and statues that were hidden underwater.
Conscious consumption of water has become a moral imperative. And, actually, it only brings benefits to the Planet and our own personal economy. The less water we consume, the lower our water utility bill will be at the end of the month. Saving water will ensure that future generations have more drinking water available.
The gestures and habits that allow a proper consumption of water are simple. In this article, we present five ways to minimize the waste of water in the kitchen, where we usually use lots of water, whether preparing meals or doing cleaning tasks.
1. Saving water is everyone’s responsibility
Every person in the household has a role to play when using water in a conscious way. This should be rule number one. Counting with the involvement of everyone guarantees a better result and more meaningful savings.
2. Using flow restrictors
If the mixer tap on your kitchen sink does not have a flow restrictor, you should install one. This is something cheap and easy to install which, by introducing air pressure in the water flow, may reduce the water volume by more than 50%, without affecting the water pressure level. According to DECO PROTESTE, Portuguese Consumer Defense Association, using flow restrictors and similar devices throughout the house can lead to diminishing water consumption by around 180 liters per day, which equates to 36 five liters of water bottles. Considering a family of three, the annual savings could reach around 135 thousand liters of water.
There are also mixer taps that already include a flow restrictor. At RODI you can find a wide selection of high-quality mixer taps with this functionality. Made from stainless steel, with chromed or black finishing, and in different formats, they add an interesting aesthetic and functional touch to any type of kitchen.
3. Ensuring you use water consciously when washing the dishes
If you wash dishes by hand, reduce water consumption by closing the tap when scrubbing with the detergent. When washing the dishes by hand you can waste up to 100 liters of water. If you use a washing machine, load it fully for each washing cycle, give preference to Eco programs, and make sure to clean the filters regularly to maximize its washing efficiency.
4. Reusing water whenever possible
The water you use to boil pasta or eggs can be reused, for example, to water plants. That water is rich in nutrients (such as minerals and vitamins) which contribute to healthy plant growth. Remember to always wait for the water to cool down. Another opportunity is to reuse water after boiling potatoes, carrots, etc., to soak beans, chickpea, or other legumes, or use it to boil pasta or rice, which will make them tastier.
5. Using less water preparing food and cleaning
Avoid washing fruit and vegetables under running water. Wash them in a container. When washing the floor, fill the bucket as minimum as possible or, preferably, choose a suitable mop with a water deposit.
We hope these tips help make a difference. At RODI we also try to do our part, adopting sustainable practices. Regarding water, RODI has an industrial residual waters treatment station, and the effluent is routed to the sewer system. In 2021, we diminished the total water consumption by 32%. See here for more sustainable practices at RODI.
The UN recommends spending a maximum of 110 liters per day. With water being a key asset for the planet and for human survival, unconscious consumption is alarming. As such, make a difference in your day-to-day, creating sustainable habits, not only in the kitchen but in any circumstance when consuming water.
Find out more here on how to make your kitchen more environmentally friendly.
