Water
Why Should We Use Water Sustainably?
Fresh, clean, and safe water is not an unlimited resource. As the human population continues to grow, our demand for water increases with it. Rapid and uneducated water consumption has major negative impacts on widespread global water equality and availability. By practicing sustainable water usage, we can move closer to universally balancing the supply and demand of water, and work towards making safe water accessible to all. Additionally, responsible water use protects natural carbon sinks such as oceans and wetlands, effectively helping reduce humanity’s carbon footprint.
To learn more about the global state of water today, check out the UN's World Water Development Report for 2020 (pdf)
Tips for Sustainable Water Use
- Take shorter, cooler showers, and turn off the water while shaving or shampooing
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
- Install a flow restrictor or water-saving showerheads if possible
- Only run your washing machine or dishwasher if you have a full load
- When hand-washing dishes, fill the sink basin rather than letting the faucet run
- Have leaky faucets and pipes in your home repaired or replaced, or submit a service request if you encounter them in on-campus housing
- Save water used from activities like rinsing produce to water houseplants
- If possible, invest in a rain barrel for watering if you have a garden or large number of houseplants
- Check out W&M Take Back the Tap on Facebook for more info concerning water justice on our campus!
