SOS! We’re out of water, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Here are five easy ways to save this precious resource.
1. In your bathroom
– Reduce shower time by one minute, and turn off the tap when soaping.
– Use a tumbler when brushing your teeth.
– For dual-flush flushing cisterns, use reduced flush for liquid waste.
– Opt for showers, rather than baths in the bathtub.
– Wait for the water to heat up, before turning on the tap for hot showers.
2. In your kitchen
– Wash dishes and vegetables in a basin, and not under a running tap.
– Do not thaw food under running water. Let it defrost overnight in the fridge instead.
– Use water leftover from boiling to water your plants, after it has cooled.
– Wash full loads, if you are using a dishwasher.
3. When doing your laundry
– Run the washing machine only on a full load.
– Collect the rinse water from the washer to flush the toilet or mop the floor.
4. Housekeeping outdoors
– Keep car washing to a minimum. Use a bucket and not a running hose.
– Water plants by using a watering can instead of a running hose. Reduce the frequency of watering to every third day and not more than 15 minutes each time.
– Water plants in the early morning or late evening (before 7am and after 7pm) to minimise evaporation losses.
5. Others
– Monitor your water bill to track water consumption. If it is more than average, relook your water usage habits.
– Install thimbles or water saving devices at taps with high flow rate.
– Turn off taps tightly to ensure they do not drip.
– Check for leaks in flushing cisterns, pipes and taps, and repair them promptly to prevent water wastage.
– Check for leaks regularly by turning off all taps and checking the water meter. If the meter counter dial continues to run, it means there is a leak.
-Wash your pets outdoors, if you have a garden and outdoor plants.
For more tips, visit the PUB website.
By Jessie Lim, The Straits Times, 13 April 2016
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