Most of the water wasted in your kitchen goes down the drain by allowing the tap to run freely while washing dishes, fruit, and vegetables, and when cleaning surfaces. A great way to save water in the kitchen is with a faucet aerator.

Did You Know? Leftover dishwater makes a great organic bug spray for aphids, white flies, and spider mites. Strain the water to remove bits of food, and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on indoor and outdoor plants.

Aerators mix air in with the water passing through your faucet. The water pressure remains the same, but a lot less water is used. Standard faucet aerators, used to cut back on splashing from faucets, can use up to 16 litres of water per minute. Low-flow aerators do more than cut back on splashing, they can cut water use by half or more. They’re inexpensive, and available at all hardware or plumbing supply stores.

Tips:

• When washing dishes or vegetables in the sink, plug the drain instead of running water.
• Keep a container of drinking water in the fridge, instead of running water from the tap until it gets cold enough for a drink.
• Sink garbage disposal systems consume hundreds of litres of water each week, and increase the load for water treatment plants. Save money on your water bill and create a great soil conditioner for your gardens by composting kitchen wastes instead!