Saving water should always be a priority, especially in Cayman where, with no natural sources of fresh water apart from the rain, we rely on technology for our drinking water. It is even predicted that water may become the most sought after resource in the world in future.

The reality is that water conservation is a responsibility that we all share and by making small changes around the house and to our daily routines, we can make a significant impact on our water supplies without feeling as though we’re sacrificing our comforts or experience.

Starting with the home bathroom is a good idea as the potential for water savings there is great. According to the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States, Americans use roughly 3.3 billion gallons of water each day just for showering. However, taking shorter showers or using water saving showerheads can have a big impact on that number.

It seems to be abundant, but water is a relatively scarce resource. Less than one per cent of the world’s fresh water is readily accessible for direct human use. Here are a few tips that you can follow to reduce your water consumption in the bath.

• Install a water-efficient showerhead.
  By installing a water-efficient showerhead, the average four-person household can potentially save an estimated 11,000 gallons of water per year. Here’s an example: 8-minute shower x 2.5 gallons per minute (standard showerhead) = 20 gallons used per shower.
  8-minute shower x 1.5 gpm (water-efficient showerhead) = 12 gallons used per shower.
  8-gallon savings x 4 people per day x 365 days yields approximately 11,680 gallons of water savings per four-person household, per year.
  

• Fix a leaky faucet.
  According to the EPA, a leaky faucet dripping at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.
  

• Learn to reuse and recycle.
  Don’t pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering plants or cleaning.
  Turn off the water. According to the EPA, a bathroom faucet usually runs at two gallons of water per minute. By turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving, you can save more than 200 gallons of water per month.
  

• Take showers instead of baths. The average bathtub can hold up to 70 gallons of water when full. By taking an eight minute shower instead of a bath, each person can save approximately 50 gallons of water per day.
  

• Switch to a high-efficiency toilet. A high-efficiency toilet uses less than 1.3 gallons per flush, leading to an average of 20 per cent less water per flush when compared to the industry standard of 1.6 gallons.

In March 2010, the EPA established its WaterSense specifications for showerheads to promote water efficiency in the shower, and product performance and quality.

To earn the WaterSense designation, a showerhead or hand shower must flow at a rate of no more than two gallons per minute, tested at a flowing pressure of 80 psi, and is tested against the following attributes to ensure performance and user satisfaction:

• A consistent flow rate across a range of pressures
  
• Spray force
  
• Spray coverage

Those showerheads and handshowers that meet these WaterSense requirements use about 20 to 40 per cent less water than the industry standard.   WH