The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) of Trinidad and Tobago recently announced that the Desalination Company of Trinidad and Tobago will be shut down from January 15th, 2018 to January 20th, 2018 in order to facilitate maintenance works.
Note: Stay informed. View WASA’s water supply schedules by clicking here.
To reduce the effects of this impending water shortage, we have compiled these simple but effective water conservation tips. Getting into the practice of water conservation will help you decrease wastage throughout the year.
In The Bathroom
Shower Efficiently
Drips add up over time. Litres of water flow out of your showerhead per minute. To avoid this, take shorter showers. Try using a timer to make it challenging. Also, it might be a good idea to keep a bucket or some other container under the showerhead as you shower to catch some of the excess runoff. You can use this to flush the toilet or even to water your plants.
Turn Off the Tap
When you brush your teeth or wash your hands, the tap doesn’t need to be flowing the whole time. So when you’re scrubbing your hands with soap or your teeth with toothpaste, leave it off until you actually need water.
In The Kitchen
Wash Wares/Produce without Flowing Water
Fill your sink with water and wash the dishes from there, only opening the faucet when absolutely necessary. Similarly for washing fruits and vegetables, fill one bowl with water and operate out of it. You can use a brush to scrub the produce clean instead of putting them under a running tap.
Re-purpose Water
The idea is to not waste water by only using a specific volume once. For example, the water you drain into the sink after boiling pasta or potatoes can be used to water plants if you collect it and let it cool. Think of ways to preserve what you use to get as much out of it as possible.
Around the House
Wash Clothes in a Tub or Basin
Your washing machine is in the top five culprits when it comes to guzzling water in the house. Conserve your supply by just soaking your clothes in a tub or basin and then be conservative with water usage when rinsing.
Repair Leaks and other Plumbing Issues
The dripping tap that annoys you when you’re trying to fall asleep should annoy you because it’s unnecessarily wasting precious water. Not just taps, leaking tanks, cracked pipes, anything that allows water to escape. The seepage might seem like a trickle, but over time a staggering amount of water can be lost. The longer you delay in fixing leaks, the more wastage occurs that could have been avoided. Also consider installing more efficient fixtures that do not release as much volume as older models.
