Water conservation

Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water

and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as
cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.

Introduction
Water conservation and water efficiency
Water conservation
Water conservation can be defined as:
1. Any beneficial deduction in water loss, use, or
waste;
2. A reduction in water use accomplished by implementation of water conservation or water
efficiency measures; or,
3. Improved water management practices that reduce or enhance the beneficial use of water. [1][2] A
water conservation measure is an action, behavioral change, device, technology, or improved
design or process implemented to reduce water loss, waste, or use. Water efficiency is a tool of
water conservation. That results in more efficient water use and thus reduces water demand. The
value and cost-effectiveness of a water efficiency measure must be evaluated in relation to its
effects on the use and cost of other natural resources (e.g. energy or chemicals).[1]
Water efficiency
Water efficiency can be defined as the accomplishment of a function, task, process, or result with the
minimal amount of water feasible, or an indicator of the relationships between the amount of water needed
for a specific purpose and the amount of water used, occupied or delivered.[1]
Goals
The goals of water conservation efforts include:
• Sustainability. To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an
ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate.
• Energy conservation. Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a
significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world (for example, California [3]) over 15%
of total electricity consumption is devoted to water management.
• Habitat conservation. Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local
wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water
diversion infrastructure.

Social solutions
Water conservation programs are typically initiated at the local level, by either municipal water utilities or
regional governments. Common strategies include public outreach campaigns,[4] tiered water rates
(charging progressively higher prices as water use increases), subsidies for showerhead and toilet retrofits,
and seasonal restrictions on lawn sprinklers.[5] Cities in dry climates often require or encourage the
installation of xeriscaping or natural landscaping in new homes to reduce
outdoor water usage.[6]
One fundamental conservation goal is universal metering. The prevalence of
residential water metering varies significantly worldwide. Recent studies have
estimated that water supplies are metered in less than 30% of UK households, [7]
and about 61% of urban Canadian homes (as of 2001).[8] Although individual
water meters have often been considered impractical in homes with private
wells or in multifamily buildings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
estimates that metering alone can reduce consumption by 20 to 40 percent.[9] In
addition to raising consumer awareness of their water use, metering is also an
important way to identify and localize water leaks.
Some researchers have suggested that water conservation efforts should be
primarily directed at farmers, in light of the fact that crop irrigation accounts for
70% of the world's fresh water use.[10] The agricultural sector of most countries
is important both economically and politically, and water subsidies are common. Conservation advocates
have urged removal of all subsidies to force farmers to grow more water-efficient crops and adopt less
wasteful irrigation techniques (see Agricultural applications).

Household applications
Water-saving technology for the home includes:
• Low-flow shower heads (sometimes called energy-efficient shower heads as they also use less
energy, due to less water being heated).[citation needed]
• Low-flush toilets and composting toilets. These have a dramatic impact in the developed world, as
conventional Western toilets use large volumes of water.
• Cold Showers: Water can also be conserved useing less water by taking only cold showers.
Numerous studies show that daily moderate exposure to cold water is known to reduce pain, does
not appear to have adverse effects on test subjects, will also aid the improvement of human health
(hygiene) and improve the energy conservation and water conservation of households. *[1]
Adapted cold shower as a potential treatment for depression. [2]Possible stimulation of anti-tumor
immunity using repeated cold stress: a hypothesis [3] cold_showers_hydrotherapy [4] 4-reasons-
why-you-need-to-take-cold-showers ..see also cold shock response
• Saline water (sea water) or rain water can be used for flushing toilets.
• Faucet aerators, which break water flow into fine droplets to maintain "wetting effectiveness"
while using less water. An additional benefit is that they reduce splashing while washing hands
and dishes.
• Wastewater reuse or recycling systems, allowing:
○ Reuse of graywater for flushing toilets or watering gardens, and
○ Recycling of wastewater through purification at a water treatment plant. See also
Wastewater - Reuse
• Rainwater harvesting
• High-efficiency clothes washers
• Weather-based irrigation controllers
• Garden hose nozzles that shut off water when it is not being used, instead of letting a hose run.
Water can also be conserved by landscaping with native plants and by changing behavior, such as
shortening showers and not running the faucet while brushing teeth.

Commercial applications
Many water-saving devices (such as low-flush toilets) that are useful in homes can also be useful for
business water saving. Other water-saving technology for businesses includes:
• Waterless urinals
• Waterless car washes
• Infrared or foot-operated faucets, which can save water by using short bursts of water for rinsing
in a kitchen or bathroom
• Pressurized waterbrooms, which can be used instead of a hose to clean sidewalks
• X-ray film processor re-circulation systems
• Cooling tower conductivity controllers
• Water-saving steam sterilizers, for use in hospitals and health care
facilities.

Agricultural applications
For crop irrigation, optimal water efficiency means minimizing losses due
to evaporation, runoff or subsurface drainage. An evaporation pan can be
used to determine how much water is required to irrigate the land. Flood
irrigation, the oldest and most common type, is often very uneven in
distribution, as parts of a field may receive excess water in order to deliver
sufficient quantities to other parts. Overhead irrigation, using center-pivot
or lateral-moving sprinklers, gives a much more equal and controlled
distribution pattern. Drip irrigation is the most expensive and least-used type, but offers the best results in
delivering water to plant roots with minimal losses.
As changing irrigation systems can be a costly undertaking, conservation efforts often concentrate on
maximizing the efficiency of the existing system. This may include chiseling compacted soils, creating
furrow dikes to prevent runoff, and using soil moisture and rainfall sensors to optimize irrigation
schedules.[9]
Infiltration basins, also called recharge pits, capture rainwater and recharge ground water supplies. Use of
these management practices reduces soil erosion caused by stormwater runoff and improves water quality
in nearby surface waters.

Minimum Water Network Target and Design

The Cost effective minimum water network is a holistic framework/guide for water conservation that helps
in determining the minimum amount of freshwater and wastewater target for an industrial or urban system
based on the water management hierarchy i.e. it considers all conceivable methods to save water. The
technique ensure that the designer desired payback period is satisfied using Systematic Hierarchical
Approach for Resilient Process Screening (SHARPS) technique.
Another established technique for maximum water recovery is the water pinch analysis technique.
However, this technique only focuses on maximizing freshwater and wastewater reduction via reuse and
regeneration.
THE WATER AND ENERGY CONNECTION
Saving water also saves energy. 6.5% of the energy used in the state of California is for pumping and
treating water--in fact, pumping water south (and uphill) in the State Water Project accounts for 2-3% of
all the electricity used in the state. And for your personal energy bill, using less hot water saves on
water heating. On the flip side, saving energy and using alternative energy saves water--electricity
production from fossil fuels and nuclear energy is responsible for 39% of all freshwater withdrawals in
the nation.
WHAT CAN I DO?
There are many effective ways to conserve water in and around your home. Look through this list for
ways that will work for you. Many of these tips were gleaned from materials published by the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Indoor savings are based on a family of two
adults and one child.
In the Bathroom
1. Put a plastic bottle or a plastic bag weighted with pebbles and filled with water in your toilet tank.
Displacing water in this manner allows you to use less water with each flush. Saves 5 to 10 gallons a
day. That's up to 300 gallons a month, even more for large families. Better yet, for even greater
savings, replace your water-guzzling five to seven gallon a flush toilet with a one and a half gallon,
ultra-low flush model.
2. If you're taking a shower, don't waste cold water while waiting for hot water to reach the shower
head. Catch that water in a container to use on your outside plants or to flush your toilet. Saves 200 to
300 gallons a month.
3. Check toilet for leaks. Put dye tablets or food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl
without flushing, there's a leak that should be repaired. Saves 400 gallons a month.