World Water Day–You, yes YOU need to STOP wasting water every single day

Did you know that only 2% of water on earth is freshwater and 1.6 % of it locked in polar caps and glaciers? That leaves us with 0.4 % to use. So if we don't start saving water now and keep on wasting this precious resource, we will soon run out of clean water. Don't think you waste water? These are the 7 ways you're wasting water on a daily basis without realizing it!

Air conditioner drips: Summer is here and we will soon start using air conditioners. Have you noticed a steady drip of water falling under your window sill? Instead of letting all that water go to waste, it can be collected and used for watering plants or even in the wash room.

Large flush tanks: On an average, a flush tank can hold up to seven liters of water. That means if you flush your toilet seven times a day, you waste 49 liters of water! With every person using the toilet in your house, just do the math yourself! Install flush tanks with a smaller capacity, or those flush tanks where you have the option of using different quantities of water for poop and pee.

Sprinklers: Keeping sprinklers on for a long time or watering your plants excessively is also a waste of water.

Showering for a long time: How long do you stand under the shower, thinking about all your life troubles? Also what about when you leave the tap running and your buckets has been overflowing for several minutes? The amount of water wasted in such cases is huge. Consciously cut down the time you spend showering and start using water more judiciously to avoid water cuts.

Leaky plumbing and taps: One tap which leaks at the rate of 30 drops per minute can waste around 10 litres of water every day*. And if there is one such tap in every house, you can just imagine the amount of water that we waste every day. And it's not just the leakage; we barely realize the repercussions of not turning the tap off while brushing our teeth or washing vessels.

Bursting pipeline: In India, unfortunately, pipeline bursts are a very common phenomenon. While there's no way to calculate the amount of water wasted in a pipeline burst, be a responsible citizen and alert your local civic body to fix the issue as soon as possible.

Wasting water in the name of God and festivals: Idol immersions during Ganapati festival and Durga Puja are done every year with a lot of fervour and gusto. What many of us tend to forget is that these idols are made from plaster of Paris, which doesn't disintegrate easily and lingers in the water for a long time, making it unfit for use. Instead, switch to idols made of clay and use artificial immersion ponds to prevent water wastage. During Holi, avoid celebrating with water. Instead, go for a 'dry Holi' and save several liters of precious water if you don't want to live with water cuts!