Today, we are sharing some easy tips you can follow to become smarter about water.

You must wonder – if 70% of the Earth’s surface is made up of water then how is a water shortage even possible? Well, 97.5% is seawater unfit for human consumption. And with both populations and temperatures are rising, the freshwater we do have is under severe pressure.

Of all the water on Earth, only 2.5% makes up fresh water. Water is our most precious resource - all life on our planet depends on it. We must conserve every bit of water when given a chance.

🙌 It may sound obviously simple, but a little effort really does go a long way. So, let’s hear from you - how many of you follow these water rules? ðŸ™Œ

💧 A running tap wastes approximately 6 litres of water per minute. Most of us brush in the morning and in the evening - for 2 minutes at a time - leaving the tap on can potentially amount to 24 litres of water wasted per person, every day - just from brushing alone. So whether you're washing your hands or brushing your teeth, turn the tap off!

💧 An average showerhead uses 9 litres of water per minute. Simply cutting your usual ten-minute shower in half can save over 45 litres of water. To put that into perspective, that's enough drinking water for 22 days. So next time you shower, try setting a timer on your smartphone or watch and see how long you spend inside!

�� Collect rainwater, and use it to water your houseplants and garden.

💧 Use a bowl instead of a running tap for washing vegetables - you can save about five litres of water each time by doing this.

�� Re-use cooking water. Making pasta or noodles? Boiling potatoes or other vegetables? Instead of dumping that water down the drain, you can use it to water your plants (once it cools, of course).

💧 Water plants early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s cooler, to minimize evaporation.

�� Avoid hoses! Instead, water your plants with a watering can, and wash your car with a bucket.

❣️ Make a greater impact (and get featured) -

  1. Calculate your water footprint here
  2. Take a picture or a video and tell us what steps you are taking to reduce your water consumption. Share your story on your Instagram.
  3. And don't forget to tag us @WWFIndia and use the hashtags #iMeanGreen #EarthHourIndia