Water

Becoming Less

Jun 23 2022 • 42 mins

Bizz chats with Guiscela about wasting water and the differences she sees with water usage in Canada vs Mexico.

Tips to reduce water usage:

  • Turn tap off while brushing teeth
  • Turn on only the hot water while waiting to heat and start using as soon as it warms up
  • Water lawn before sunrise or after sunset
  • Change lawn from grass to garden to grow food, or to something that doesn't require watering
  • Shop less and/or shop second-hand (manufacturing requires water, too!)
  • Use concentrated cleansers and drink flavours
  • Check for leaks and running toilets
  • Get/make a rain barrel
  • Shower less often/shorter showers/skip the hair every other time
  • Low flow toilets and shower heads
  • Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
  • Reuse clean wastewater for plants

Things we talk about:

  • Water isn't just used by using water directly, not just the water we see
    • Direct uses:
      • Drinking
      • Cooking
      • Water lawn/garden
      • Shower/bath
    • Indirect uses:
      • Agriculture
        • Food
        • Raise animals
        • Materials for building
        • Materials for clothing
      • Industrial use
        • Make pretty much everything we use
        • About 1,800 gallons of water are needed to produce the cotton in a pair jeans
        • Processing materials such as paper and steel
      • Energy
    • During a water shortage, often it's the individuals who are restricted, while large corporations can continue using as much as they want to produce non-essential products.
    • Glaciers are receding - this is our water reserve!
    • Lakes shrinking
    • Oil spills can also affect water availability, and this can happen very quickly

Donate to support waste reduction at wastefree.ca or on Patreon

Music by Vita Chino (@vitachino on Instagram, or find them on Spotify)

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