Save water, save life: Embrace bucket baths and green living to tackle the water crisis

As water, rightly described as ‘elixir of life’, starts getting scarce with the peaking of summer, green living proponents call for measures at individual level also to tide over the crisis

Hyderabad: Give up bathroom singing, shut the shower and go for a bucket bath.

Fact is, a shower bath ends up using around 8 times more water than a bucket bath.

As water, rightly described as ‘elixir of life’, starts getting scarce with the peaking of summer, green living proponents call for measures at individual level also to tide over the crisis.

From checking on the leakages in the water supply lines in the house to adopting water-saving flush and faucets, and ensuring every drop of water is saved is stressed upon.

Estimates suggest that in typical Indian conditions, the average domestic water consumption is 100 to 140 litres per person per day while in a commercial set-up, it is around 40 to 45 litres per person per day.

Meanwhile, ‘The Indian Standard: Code of Basic Requirements for Water Supply, Drainage and Sanitation’ looks at 150 to 200 litres per head per day for communities with population above 1 lakh together with full flushing system. However, given the indiscriminate water usage practices of the modern-day living style, the figures have clearly crossed the prescription.

Estimates breaking down the water usage suggest that the highest water consumption in homes goes for shower/bathing. Interestingly, according to the estimates, the water usage for an individual is 5 litres for drinking purposes and another 5 litres for cooking, while 75 litres per day are spent for shower/bathing!

The daily average water consumption per person also estimates that 45 litres are spent on flushing, 25 litres on clothes washing and 15 litres on utensil washing. In dwellings that are heavily reliant on modern-day comforts such as air-coolers or air-conditioners and dish washers, more water ends up getting spent.

Proponents of green living highlight the need to conserve water at the individual level given its limited availability. From ensuring taps are closed properly, the fixtures are not leaking, using washing machine only when enough cloth load is there and mopping homes more than washing are suggested.

Thriving on green concepts, the Indian Green Building Council campus near Hitec City shows the way in saving water. “We have demonstrated that adoption of water saving measures can help in bringing down per person per day water consumption to 100 to 120 litres,” says M Anand, deputy executive director, IGBC.

A keen proponent of green living, Anand calls for adoption of every possible step that helps conserve water. “Stop being a bathroom singer, go for bucket bath. It saves a lot of water. Similarly, water can be conserved by being careful in every activity that involves water usage, from washing utensils to clothes,” he adds.

Estimated daily water usage (litres per person per day):

· Average usage: 120 to 140

· Bathing: 75

· Flushing: 45

· Washing clothes: 25

· Washing utensils: 15

· Washing house: 15

· Gardening: 15

· Cooking: 5

· Drinking: 5