Water scarcity has become a major cause for concern with the increase in demand for water for various activities such as irrigation, industries, and household requirements. The most viable solutions to this scarcity are water conservation methods and rain water harvesting. Water conservation can be termed as protection and efficient management, of water resources through various techniques like recycling, reusing, and replenishing the depleting water sources. Conservation is one of the most viable ways to deal with the growing demand for water. There are numerous ways to conserve water in buildings.
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Try to reduce the overall amount of water used in the building for various activities.
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Try
to estimate and budget the water consumption/ requirement of the
building, as this will help to identify areas where water can be saved
and used efficiently.
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Identify leaks in the
building and repair the leaky fixtures and water pipes, this will help
prevent wastage of a significant quantity of water.
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Rainwater
can be harvested in buildings by creating catchments, and the collected
water can be used like gray water, for gardens and in toilets.
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Install low-flow water fixtures within the building.
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Opt for water fixtures with aerators.
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Replace
the regular flush in water closets with low flow flush, as it has been
observed that considerable amount of water is wasted due to the flush
device.
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Opt for waterless urinals.
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Opt for Xeriscaping,
the landscaping technique where local plants and plants with low water
requirements are planted instead of exotic plant varieties.
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Gray
water, the wastewater generated from sinks, bathtubs, washing, and
other such sources in buildings can be recycled and reused for various
activities like irrigation, flushing in toilets, and external washings
such as car wash etc.
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Buildings can set up wastewater treatment systems that can separate gray water to help recycle and reuse water.
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Improve
the energy efficiency of buildings, as it would minimize the heat load
on cooling towers. This in turn can help reduce the amount of water
consumed in the cooling towers.
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Install valves
that can reduce the pressure of water supplied in buildings. It will
help reduce water wastage, leakages, and increase the life of plumbing
fixtures.
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Water lawns and plants early in the morning or after sunset to avoid evaporation losses.
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