Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a certifier of drinking water quality and safety, is asking consumers to pledge to reduce their household water usage. UL introduced the Save Your Water consumption calculator where consumers can pledge to conserve water by making simple lifestyle changes. The interactive tool helps visitors evaluate their daily, weekly and annual household water consumption.
For each of the first 15,000 pledges received, UL will donate $1 to Water for People, an international organization committed to the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education programs.
“With less than 1% of the world's freshwater supply accessible to humans, preserving this precious resource is a timely and critical issue,” said Jeff Smith, general manager, UL Global Water and Food Safety business units. “UL encourages people across the globe to join us in our World Water Day pledge to make a positive impact on the world’s water supply.”
Each year, World Water Day is held on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. World Water Day 2010 is dedicated to raising awareness of the increasing water quality challenges in water management.
Participants are taken on a tour in and around a two-story home. In each room, or outdoor location, they’ll be asked a series of questions to determine their own water usage habits. For those looking to use less water during the next year, UL offers the following tips:
In the Bathroom
• Take shorter showers: An efficient shower lasts three or four minutes and uses only 7.5 gal (approximately 28 liters) of water;
• Don’t keep the faucet running unnecessarily while brushing your teeth or shaving. Turning off the faucet can save nearly 8 gal of water each day; and
• Look for the UL Plumbing Mark to confirm the plumbing fixtures you purchase meet required safety, health and performance standards.
In the Kitchen
• Wash dishes in the dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand; and
• Read your dishwasher’s manual to determine if you can load it without pre-rinsing your dishes. Many newer models require little or no advance rinsing.
In the Laundry Room
• Only run your clothes washer with full loads of laundry--even if it has an adjustable load setting; and
• Pre-treat stains to avoid having to rewash clothing.
Outside the Home
• Limit the number of times you water your lawn. Over-watering “trains” your lawn to need more water; and
• Reduce the temperature of your pool water. The warmer a pool’s water, the faster it can evaporate.
“World Water Day reminds us that water quality is an ongoing issue, and we all must do our part to protect it,” Smith said. “With over 20 years of experience in the drinking water industry, UL is committed to analytical and certification services that validate the quality of water for consumers worldwide. We continue to expand our drinking water analytical services and product certification programs to instill confidence in drinking water and the systems that deliver it.”
Source: UL
