Saving water in the kitchen

Washing dishes by hand can save twice the water used in a dishwasher.

The kitchen gulps down an average of 11 per cent of the total water used in a home. Even though the kitchen may not seem to be a huge culprit of water waste (compared to the bathroom or toilet), plenty of steps can still be taken to save water.

You can help save water by doing the following things

• Washing dishes by hand can save twice the water used in a dishwasher.
• When washing dishes by hand, don’t leave the tap running. Plug the sink or use a portable dishpan.
• If you have a dishwasher, only use it for full loads. If most of your dishes are not heavily greased and dirty, set your dishwater on an economical mode so water gets recycled in the wash.
• When cleaning vegetables and fruit, plug the sink or use a big bowl to wash them instead of rinsing them under a running tap.
• After washing your vegetables and fruits in a big bowl, take the wastewater outside and use it to water your garden.
• Don’t pour grease or oil down the sink. They can harden when cooling down and clog water pipes, which can be costly to fix.
• If you’re steaming vegetables or cooking pasta, you can water your houseplants or garden with any left over water. This water can even contain nutrients to help your plants grow better. Be sure to let the water cool down first, though!