In This Post:
Place a Bucket Under the Shower
Reuse Water from Old Drinking Bottles
Use Pasta and Rice Water
Save Water From Washing Veggies & Fruits
Install a Greywater Collection System
Divert Rain Water
Create a Rain Garden
If you are wondering how to recycle water at home – then we have some clever hacks for you.
Quite frankly, saying that water is a precious natural resource would be a gross understatement. All life on this planet depends on water, but sadly, a smooth and consistent supply of the source of all life is being threatened by climate change and the increasing pollution. Moreso, the rising population and the lack of rain have worsened the water crisis in every corner of the globe, with no signs of a quick recovery in the near future.
Owing to many existing and under-construction dams in Pakistan, we just might be able to preserve enough water for our current needs. Albeit, it isn’t enough to save the next generation from facing the adverse effects of the water we waste and the choices we make today.
We tried to highlight the criticality of the subject by sharing some ways to conserve water at home and the list of measures taken by the government to eliminate environmental risks in Pakistan previously. This blog, however, is focused on a few ways to recycle water at home and reuse it for other purposes.
So, without further ado, let’s get recycling!
How to Recycle Water at Home – Some Essential Tips
Recycling water and reusing it is an effective practice to conserve this precious natural resource. Not only does it give us a chance to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, but it can also reduce our water bills and other expenses. There are quite a few ways to use water effectively, and we can easily implement them in our daily practices.
That said, here are some easy tips on how to recycle water and reuse it for multiple purposes around your house and other daily activities:
- Place a Bucket Under the Shower
- Reuse Water from Old Drinking Bottles
- Use Pasta and Rice Water
- Save Water From Washing Veggies & Fruits
- Install a Greywater Collection System
- Divert Rain Water
- Create a Rain Garden
Place a Bucket Under the Shower
If you use a bucket to take a bath instead of using a shower, then here are a few things that might make you want to switch to a shower.
While a shower typically saves water from wastage, it also uses less water than filling a bathtub or using buckets. Switching to a shower can also help you save more water by helping you recycle it. How? Well, you cannot really save the water you use from a bucket as it goes down in the drain directly – until you have a greywater system installed in your house [which we will discuss in detail later].
In case you do not have any such system installed, placing a bucket under the shower is a genius way to save excess water and keep it for later use, like washing the bathroom floor or washing your terrace. You can also use the water for grass or plants – just make sure it is free of chemicals like soap and shampoo.
Reuse Water from Old Drinking Bottles
It is not uncommon for us to have a collection of half-used water bottles in our cars and homes. You can gather those bottles and use that collection for multiple purposes since the bottled water is clean. As such, washing and cleaning, watering your plants or lawn, you can even use this water to wash your hands if you are travelling and cannot find any nearby stops.
Remember that the expiry date on the bottle is for the packaging and not the water, so it is completely safe to use that water anytime [not for intake] until the packaging expires.
Use Pasta and Rice Water
Reusing pasta and rice water is a great hack for using water carefully at homes and saving it. We tend to use a good amount of water to soak rice and boil both pasta and water. It is completely safe to use that water later for various purposes.
To begin with, you can reuse the water from boiled pasta easily by placing a pot under the colander when you are draining the pasta. You can save this water and reuse it for cooking provided that you are using packaged pasta and keeping the water covered in a safe and clean container.
On the other hand, water from washed and soaked rice can be used for cleaning as well as washing. You can use rice water to clean your car or washing the bathroom floor. Beauty gurus also suggest that rice water works wonders for the glow of skin and can be used as a natural conditioner for hair as well. Water from boiled rice, however, tends to be starchy, so it is best to keep it reserved for lawns and plants only.
Save Water from Washing Veggies & Fruits
It is no secret that we tend to be careless with water when it comes to washing vegetables and fruits. Yes, it is necessary to make sure that the veggies and fruits are clean and free from dirt particles and germs, but why stop there? Why not place a pot in the sink under the colander to collect the water after washing the vegetables and fruits? Just make sure that the pot is clean, and it is large enough to collect all the excess water. You can use the collected water in the garden, for flushing, or washing any area of your house. If you are using it for cleaning of any sort, just make sure that the water is clean enough and free from any excessive dust.
Install a Greywater Collection System
Installing a greywater collection system is by far the best method to recycle water at home. The water collected from drains, showers, baths, washroom and kitchen sinks, and washing machines is defined as greywater. It is also known as sullage in the local lingo.
The main function of this system is to collect water from all these places and make it reusable for other purposes. Installing such a system requires a small amount of investment, but the advantages keep on rewarding in the long-term.
Divert Rain Water
Now, this one’s not particularly from the inside of your home, but you can divert rainwater and reuse it for more than one purpose. A great way to do so is to place a rain barrel under the waterspout in your house.
Some houses in Pakistan, mostly apartments, do not have any proper system for waterspout. In such cases, you can place a barrel on your roof or terrace to collect the water and save it for later. Since this water is being directly collected from the rain, you can use it to wash dishes, clothes, floors or clean your cars.
Create a Rain Garden
A rain garden is a simple yet amazing idea to save water. It is also an attractive landscaping feature that can uplift the overall look of your property. A rain garden is created from perennial plants and can survive any weather conditions. As such, you can plant tomato, onion, basil, etc. It doesn’t require heavy maintenance and can be planted on your roof, driveways, walkways, or parking.
Since it is a bowl-shaped garden with deep and loose-coil, the main purpose of this garden is to absorb drainage water from the various surfaces mentioned above.
So, this was our take on how to recycle water at home. We have mentioned some very common practices and everyday habits in this blog that you can change a little to save water and reuse later. If you have any further suggestions, you can email them at blog@zameen.com or send us a message on Zameen’s Facebook Page.
Before we sign off, we would like to share a list of precautions when you are recycling water at home. To begin with, make sure that you are keeping the recycled water covered until you use it. Further, you should also make sure that you are not using it in a way that can harm you or your family member’s health. Keep in mind that you are not using this water for drinking, cooking, or for any type of intake. Lastly, do not reuse water that has been mixed with harmful chemicals. Take a look at our recentlyy published guide on water purification methods at home.
For more tips on stop wasting water and making other such environmental-friendly choices, take a look at our recently published blog on eco-friendly alternatives for everyday items. Subscribe to Zameen Blog by entering your email address in the box on the right side of your screen and get our posts delivered directly to your inbox.
We aim to build a responsible community, you can also help us by sharing this piece with your friends and family members on WhatsApp and Facebook!
