Why We Should Conserve Water

Water as an element is not destroyed. But, the costs of treating water for safe use are the same whether the water is used for drinking or is wasted through leaking faucets. Wasted water has energy, chemical and disposal costs.

Conserve water.

Wasted Water

Water leak.

The water wasted through a leaking faucet or pointless display receives the same treatment as the water you drink.

Water and Energy

Pump-driven water pressure.

One of the major costs of providing water is the energy to move it from wells and reservoirs for treatment and then to your home. Each step involves the use of high-volume and energy-consuming pumps.

Chemical Treatment

These chemical costs include the expense of producing and delivering pure chemicals, applying the chemicals in a controlled and tested way, and disposing of the process by-products.

Cost Reduction

If half or more of the water produced in a treatment plant is wasted, reducing that waste will directly impact how much water is consumed. Reduced consumption results in less water demand for treatment, and the associated energy and chemical costs.

Lawn Watering

One of the heaviest demands on a water treatment system comes from over-watering lawns. This water seeps into the earth or is evaporated into clouds, but must be processed again for reuse.

Rainwater Collection

Backyard water barrel.

Using collected rainwater to water a lawn during dry times would reduce the demand for drinkable, treated water, and its chemical and energy costs.

References

• Costs of Water Treatment Due to Diminished Water Quality: A Case Study in Texas